March Madness Thread....

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by OldDog

Wouldn't have mattered with UConn hitting 100% of their free throws. The 'Cats were around 50% on free throws, were outrebounded and when pulling within one they just couldn't get it done. With the exception of Young, they played like they were exhausted. But what a fantastic 3 weeks it's been.

That's nonsense. Even if you foul and someone makes both, you're still only down 2 possessions, and you have 50 seconds left instead of 20, which is an eternity of a difference with Kentucky's 3-point shooters. Indefensible decision not to foul or at least trap. He guarded 1-on-1 for 42 seconds inside the final minute down by 4! It's mind-boggling.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

That's nonsense. Even if you foul and someone makes both, you're still only down 2 possessions, and you have 50 seconds left instead of 20, which is an eternity of a difference with Kentucky's 3-point shooters. Indefensible decision not to foul or at least trap. He guarded 1-on-1 for 42 seconds inside the final minute down by 4! It's mind-boggling.

Calapari did the same thing in the Memphis championship game where he went into OT not using like 3 timeouts or something.

He spaces out sometimes late in games, and IMO, alot of that has to do with the assistant coaches.

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

That's nonsense. Even if you foul and someone makes both, you're still only down 2 possessions, and you have 50 seconds left instead of 20, which is an eternity of a difference with Kentucky's 3-point shooters. Indefensible decision not to foul or at least trap. He guarded 1-on-1 for 42 seconds inside the final minute down by 4! It's mind-boggling.

Down by 4, I think the feeling was that the best chance was to make a defensive stop, make a quick score and have a chance for another before the end of the game, instead of putting UConn on the line and having them assuredly go up by 6. Remember UConn as a team was shooting 90% at the free throw line throughout the tournament and 100% last night. Kentucky was 1-7 from 3 point range in the second half.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by OldDog

Down by 4, I think the feeling was that the best chance was to make a defensive stop, make a quick score and have a chance for another before the end of the game, instead of putting UConn on the line and having them assuredly go up by 6. Remember UConn as a team was shooting 90% at the free throw line throughout the tournament and 100% last night. Kentucky was 1-7 from 3 point range in the second half.

So the plan was to maybe get a stop and then maybe get the ball back, so the BEST CASE SCENARIO is you're still down by 2 possessions with under 20 seconds left? Solid.

To support Cal's "strategy" there you have to think that:

-4 (at best) w/17 seconds left > -6 (at worst) w/50 seconds left.

Sorry, but it's Basketball 101 that the 30+ seconds in that situation are infinitely more valuable than the 2 points.

And again, even if you don't want to foul, you still have to trap and at least try for a steal. Calipari did neither. His plan amounted to just letting UConn run the clock out.

[Pants II]

It's best not to question Cal or worry about what he does. He's not going to change.

And that's why he won't be one of the best to ever coach the game.

You can't tell him that some of these guys should stay.

You can't remind him that insurance could protect them in case of an injury.

Nah go get that money for 3 years, ride the bench, and end up in Eastern Europe making 60-100k a year.

Lamb, Teague, Orton etc. all could have used another year in school.

Just like Young and the twins. But they'll go pro and ride the pine and be local trivia questions on Joe B and Denny show in 5 years for a $25 gift certificate to Hooters.

[OldDog]

I ****ing hate those one-and-done schools like Duke and Kansas.

[knickslions2]

College Men's Basketball preseason 2014-2015 rankings

1. Kentucky's first team
10. Kentucky's second team