It seems like UVA has been under-the-radar the entire year. So when you are watching a UVA basketball game, you may hear the announcers refer to the "Packline Defense." But what exactly is the Packline defense that Virginia is always associated with? Click Here for a video of UVA's defense in action.

The first step to this defense is limiting fast-break opportunities. As soon as your offense misses the shot and gives up the rebound, the offense turns into defense. The team runs to the other side of the court in full sprint to set up its defense.

Of the 5 players on defense, one of them will guard the ball. His job is to pressure the ball handler and make him uncomfortable. This will begin once the point guard crosses the half court line. The other 4 defenders will remain within an arc of the the basket. This isn't exactly the 3 point line, but is an imaginary arc inside the 3 point line roughly 16 feet around the basket. This is the "pack." Their job is to prevent dribble-drives and penetration to the hoop as well as disrupt passing lanes.

Once the ball handler passes the ball to another player, the on-ball defender will drop back into the pack and one of the players in the pack will attack the new ball handler. His close-out will consist of sprinting to the ball, stopping short, and raising his arms wide and high. Not only is it tough to drive to the hoop (because of the pack), but it's tough to get a good look at a 3 point shot because the player with the ball is always being harassed.

In theory, no one who is supposed to be in the pack should go beyond the 16 foot arc unless you are guarding the ball handler. However, there are occasions where you will see a pack defender leave the arc and guard the 3 point line.

If the ball handler tries to push through the gaps of the pack, he will be greeted by a pack line defender attempting to stop his penetration. It will make the ball-handler feel like he is being trapped by the on-ball defender and the pack line defender. So the ball handler will likely pass the ball to avoid the pressure and the process of defenders switching from the pack to the ball will start over. It will give the look of the trap when in reality, it's just solid man-to-man defense. This is called stopping the gaps.

It was created by Dick Bennett, former head basketball coach at Washington State and Wisconsin. It is now most famously used by his son, Tony Bennett, head coach of Virginia. UVA has used this defense to become one of the finest defensive teams in the nation over the last 5 years. Other coaches who use the defense are Chris Mack of Xavier and legendary high school coach Bob Hurley, Sr. and coaches Sean Miller, Tom Izzo and Pat Riley have been known to use pack line principles although, they do/did not officially use this defense.