Play of the game

[DaCoach]

If I had to choose one play that made the difference, It would be Otule's put back of the Buycks missed three. In the past MU has had a habit of running clock before taking a shot in the final minutes of a close game. Most times we were unsuccessful and on a few occasions we never got off a shot. As the opposition sees time go off the clock, they ratchet up the defense and an open shot becomes much more difficult. In today's game, down by 1, DB had a wide open three. It seemed WVU wasn't expecting him to take that with 22 seconds left on the shot clock. The result was a wide open Otule on the weak side for the put back giving us the lead with 1:20 remaining.

While clock management is critical in close games, I'd like to see us more aggressive the last few minutes of our close games. Usually we'll be able to get better percentage shots and the defense is more likely to be out of position.

[Benny B]

I don't agree with being more aggressive late in games, but I absolutely agree that Otule's dunk was the play of the game. We've been on the receiving end of those plays for too long; not only was it refreshing to have it go in our favor for once, it also gave us the lead for good and the momentum needed to close out the game.

[MUBasketball]

I'm actually surprised Burr didn't call a T for "hanging on the rim" after that dunk. Would have been right up his alley.

[rugbydrummer]

Chris O's thoughtful dunk galvanized everyone and really got our juices flowing again, too, however... the CLUTCH POTG was Jimmy "the" Butler's manchild epic 1-armed rebound.... should be the next MU gametime dance move -- R. A. Smith, you have been put on-notice!

Seriously that rebound sealed up the game for us.

[brewcity77]

In the past MU has had a habit of running clock before taking a shot in the final minutes of a close game.

Definitely the case, and we often do this to early in games that are too close. It looked like we wanted to run clock pretty much from 73-70 with 3:14 left. When it's a one possession game, you don't bleed the clock, but we did. Took 31 seconds off the shot clock before DJO's missed three. Then up 73-72, we bled 29 seconds before a miss by Otule. Yeah, great, there's a minute gone, but in the process, WVU scored twice to take the lead. If not for Otule's only points coming right after that, I'm not sure we win that game, and largely because we tried to run the clock out with over three minutes to go and a 3-point lead.

I'm all in favor of running time down when it's appropriate. If you have an 8 or 9 point lead in the same situation, then it's fine. But when the other team scores on back to back possessions to make it a 3 point game, then you turn it back on and stop burning clock just for the sake of it. We started too early yesterday, and it nearly cost us the game.

[AZWarrior]

the CLUTCH POTG was Jimmy "the" Butler's manchild epic 1-armed rebound.... should be the next MU gametime dance move -- R. A. Smith, you have been put on-notice!

Seriously that rebound sealed up the game for us.

Agreed - that rebound was a thing of beauty - and clutch for sealing the game.

[chren21]

Looked like Huggy Bear's defense was a mess.  No one was even guarding Buycks, and then when he shot, no one was near Otule to even challenge for the rebound.  I would love to be a fly on the wall in their film room when they go over that one.... ha ha.

[mikem91288]

Yes. That putback  by Cyclops was huge. The crowd went crazy

[NersEllenson]

Definitely the case, and we often do this to early in games that are too close. It looked like we wanted to run clock pretty much from 73-70 with 3:14 left. When it's a one possession game, you don't bleed the clock, but we did. Took 31 seconds off the shot clock before DJO's missed three.

If you go back and watch that possession when DJO took the 3 with 3 seconds left on the shot clock (around the 3:00 minute mark) - we ran a set bringing DJO from the right side of the floor to the left off of a double screen for him to get a good look at a 3 (as he'd scored 12 in row at this point), he comes off the screens wide open (with proably 18 seconds left) and inexplicably Cadougan glanced in his direction, but passed off to the right to Jimmy.  Watch the MU bench as this happens - Benford just flails back in his seat in exasperation.

I don't think it was a case of MU trying to bleed clock that far out in the game.  The MU philosophy is to take the first good shot.  Period.  Perhaps the guys tighten up a little bit toward the end (3-minute mark) HOPING instead of getting a good shot, to get a great shot.  All that said, I had NO problem with Buycks 3 point shot early in the clock..it was a wide open, toes squared, 3 pointer - albeit he just came in the game and was ice cold physically...