When you build a 20 point lead because one player had the best half I've ever seen from a hawk, it's not that hard to believe when you lose the lead. Especially when you're playing a top 10 team on the road. We really had no business having that 20 point lead. Last year's second halfs against MSU and ISU were worse as far as getting outplayed so bad in one half. The last minute was one of the worst I've ever seen though.
Howe: McCaffery Stands By Late Game Decisions
- Thread starter JonDMiller
- Start date
When you build a 20 point lead because one player had the best half I've ever seen from a hawk, it's not that hard to believe when you lose the lead. Especially when you're playing a top 10 team on the road. We really had no business having that 20 point lead. Last year's second halfs against MSU and ISU were worse as far as getting outplayed so bad in one half. The last minute was one of the worst I've ever seen though.
blubberhawk
Well-Known Member
Fran's philosophy of letting teams go on long runs without using a time out needs to be changed.
Also, under Fran, if a game is close at the end, I expect them to lose. Never surprised anymore.
kicker22
Well-Known Member
Agreed that we had no business having that lead, but the fact is we had a 20 pt. lead whether we should have or not. What I'm saying is the culmination of how the final 14 minutes played out IMO far and away outweigh the importance of the final possession. We hit a few shots, take care of the ball, or play better defense at any point during that stretch and the last possession becomes irrelevant. People want to criticize the coaching/player mentality on the final play like it was what cost us the game, but truthfully they never should have put themselves in that position.
I have a hard time saying decisions/mistakes made in the last 10 seconds of a game outweight the 39:50 played before that. Rather than questioning the outcome I think its more important to put the emphasis on what happened leading up to that point.
I agree with what happens over the course of the game is more important than the last possession. I didn't even mention in my last post how Jok going off prevented them from coming back sooner. 20 points is nothing in that situation so I have no problem with them losing the lead. I was even really impressed with the way they pulled away again. Really the only thing I hated about the game was the 2 out of bounds turnovers and after watching it again, I can't fault Uthoff for the 4 and a half second call.
I agree with your first sentence but I think he has started calling timeouts during runs better than he used to. As far as your second sentence goesdid you feel confident winning close games under Lick, Alford, or Davis? I sure didn't. I always assume the last shot against us is going in and I'm usually right.
BigD
Well-Known Member
I told KF to throw away that book he had on clock management. When he tossed it out his window it must have landed on Fran's windshield.
Bigtenchamp
Well-Known Member
This...
His strategic theories haven't been working in late games.
I like a lot about Fran... but I think he needs to re-evaluate his players and their ability or inability to execute his philosophy.
It's clear that the past few years they don't and it makes little sense to keep doing the same thing.
I didn't think Uthoff's shot was a horrible attempt... but it was far from ideal and many other times it we have flat out got next to nothing in those situations.
Bigtenchamp
Well-Known Member
Uh... no... they were up 6 pts with 1:04 secs left.
The game was lost in that stretch by bad turnovers and just to be honest it looked very mental.
ISU is a good offensive team... they will make runs so I never thought a 14 point lead at halftime was going to be a sure thing.
6 pts with 1 minute left should be a sure thing.
There isn't any getting around that.
I could try to find some stat but my guess is that in college basketball a team up by 6 with a minute left wins about 97-99% of the time... and I'm leaning towards 99%..
BigD
Well-Known Member
This is true if they make their free throws. If they don't then it's probably 50/50.
One teams scores on every possession and the other team pees down their leg on all three of their possessions with players who have players with twice as much playing experience as their opponent. It just SUCKS.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Hated giving that game up.
mrolympia
Well-Known Member
makes no sense to me
