What did Buzz say in the post game presser?

[ATWizJr]

Gawlleeee,  I sure did blow that 'un?

[g0lden3agle]

How did Buzz blow the game? Unless that was meant to be teal....

[Pakuni]

Isnt' it obvious ... Buzz told Jerel to take an ill-timed three with less than a minute to play and then leave his man wide open under the basket with seconds remaining.

The basketball genius around here never ceases to amaze.
Seriously, though, it's either really funny, or really pathetic (can't yet make up my mind which) that some would choose to attack a coach after his severely undermanned team rallies from a 17-point deficit against a deeper, more talented, better rested and higer-seeded opponent only to lose in heartbreaking fashion.
The way the game ended sucked, but Buzz did a hell of a coaching job in that second half.

[Niv Berkowitz]

So you have no problem then, with instructing his team to put a shot up with 10 seconds left in the game (5 seconds left + 5 seconds on shot clock) with the opponent with zero timeouts left? I mean, it's not like, if MU puts the shot up with say 6 or 7 seconds left, the shot hits the rim, that gives 'nova what...three seconds to go full court?

Sorry, but I like my odds there much more.

Was it his D that cost the game? Of course not. But AGAIN, he's supposed to make sure the team's in a position to succeed. He said so himself post-game. Shoot with five seconds left in the clock.

We are at a point in the game where seconds matter and we gave up four seconds.

[ATWizJr]

not sure if I am thinking in pakuni or actually speaking it, but Buzz badly mismanaged the end of the game.

that is undeniable whether you like it or not.

[mubball2009]

I don't think that can even be argued, Buzz messed up. He didn't lose the game for us, but he didn't give us a better shot.

after mcneal took that HORRIBLE 3 against cuse (down 2, 17 seconds left - him making it doesn't make it a better shot), how do you allow that same player to take control of the ball at the top of the key with 45 seconds left and a full shot clock? players are always going to try and be heroes, good coaches control their players in tht situation. buzz. of course didn't. of course, even after that poor shot, mcneal gets the ball in his hands and drives too early and makes yet another bad decision.

bravo.

[Pakuni]

So you have no problem then, with instructing his team to put a shot up with 10 seconds left in the game (5 seconds left + 5 seconds on shot clock) with the opponent with zero timeouts left? I mean, it's not like, if MU puts the shot up with say 6 or 7 seconds left, the shot hits the rim, that gives 'nova what...three seconds to go full court?

Sorry, but I like my odds there much more.

Was it his D that cost the game? Of course not. But AGAIN, he's supposed to make sure the team's in a position to succeed. He said so himself post-game. Shoot with five seconds left in the clock.

We are at a point in the game where seconds matter and we gave up four seconds.

You were in the huddle when Buzz instructed his team to take a shot with 10 seconds left?

And had Jerel (or whoever else had the ball) waited until the last second and been left in a position where he had no option but to force a bad shot from the perimeter or get called with a shot-clock violation, the second guessers would be complaining about how Buzz let him wait too long, resulting in bad, desperate attempt. That's the exact complaint I read here over and over and over about Tom Crean. Now it's smart coaching, I guess.

Jerel, I suspect, decided that if he saw a lane to the basket he was going to take it and either make the shot, get fouled or dish to an open man. Unfortunately, he missed the open man, missed the shot and the obvious foul call wasn't made. You guys apparently are under the impression that he could get off that or a better shot at any time. Just wait five more seconds and shoot, I guess. No chance the defense gets up in his face as the shot clock winds down. No chance the same lane to the basket wouldn't still be there.
If only it were so simple.

[ATWizJr]

Pakuni, a shot clock violation and we give the ball back to Nova with 5 seconds to play and no timeout.  We win if it goes to a shot clock violation.

The coach's job is to put the team in the best possible position to win and not be the reason the team, after an heroic and exhausting comeback,  loses due to idiotic management of the clock the last minute.

As a coach myself (another sport) I know how he must feel.  However, it doesn't change the facts.

[Pakuni]

Pakuni, a shot clock violation and we give the ball back to Nova with 5 seconds to play and no timeout.  We win if it goes to a shot clock violation.

The coach's job is to put the team in the best possible position to win and not be the reason the team, after an heroic and exhausting comeback,  loses due to idiotic management of the clock the last minute.

As a coach myself (another sport) I know how he must feel.  However, it doesn't change the facts.

So then you would consider giving the other team the ball out of bounds on the sideline with the clock stopped and an opportunity to set up some kind of play, while down one point and with five seconds to play "the best possible opportunity to win"?

I'm not sure many coaches would agree with that. I think a team would have a better opportunity to win up three points, with the opposing team inbounding the ball under the basket, with the clock running and with 12ish seconds to play, depending how quickly the ball is inbounded.
I'd suggest that's what MU was looking for. The problem with what you're arguing is that it assumes MU's plan was not to score in that situation, or at least assuming scoring was an unlikely outcome. I disagree. Had McNeal made the shot, seen an open Butler under the hoop or got the deserved foul call, this conversation likely is academic. As it would be had MU got an offensive rebound. Any of those four possibilities happen, MU is looking at no worse than a tie (unless McNeal gets the foul call and misses his free throws). Unfortunately, the worst of five possible outcomes occurred. But any of the others are better than simply turning the ball over and giving Villanova ample time to set up and execute a play down one point.
And you're wrong if you think giving VU the ball on the sideline with 5 seconds and time to set up a play = guaranteed win for MU. Five seconds under those cirumstances is more than enough time to get a quality shot (needing only a two-point shot to win, mind you).

[chapman]

What's wrong with just throwing up a similar contested three like McNeal did for no reason on the previous posession with 6 or 7 seconds to go?  By the time they get the rebound it's 5 seconds tops, and we either get the long rebound or play the pass down court. 

Funny thing is, I had no faith in us winning even with a few seconds left.  Sad to say with a veteran team, but that's how they've been playing.

[avid1010]

Pakuni, a shot clock violation and we give the ball back to Nova with 5 seconds to play and no timeout.  We win if it goes to a shot clock violation.

The coach's job is to put the team in the best possible position to win and not be the reason the team, after an heroic and exhausting comeback,  loses due to idiotic management of the clock the last minute.

As a coach myself (another sport) I know how he must feel.  However, it doesn't change the facts.

You're not seriously comparing your coaching of girls soccer to Buzz coaching MU.  None of us have any idea what it feels like to lose a BEAST tournament game.  

Stating MU should not have taken a shot is, well dumb, and I'd love to see when and where that philosophy has been used in DI basketball.

Buzz put the ball in his best players hand, a senior, and asked him to take a shot very late in the shot clock.  McNeal didn't do so, and Buzz has to take the blame for putting the ball in McNeal's hands.  I understand the argument that McNeal hasn't been playing smart, but I do believe we need him to play like he did weeks ago if we're going to do anything in the NCAA tourney, so I'm not sure had a lot to lose by giving it to McNeal.  Then McNeal allows his offensive struggles to effect his defense.  If you want to go after Buzz don't criticize his coaching at the end of the game (a 6th grade girls coach knows to give the ball to your best player and run the clock down), criticize his inability to effectively manage McNeal over the last few games.  

[VegasWarrior77]

So can anyone actually answer the question posed in the subject line?

[Pakuni]

What's wrong with just throwing up a similar contested three like McNeal did for no reason on the previous posession with 6 or 7 seconds to go?  By the time they get the rebound it's 5 seconds tops, and we either get the long rebound or play the pass down court. 

Thst certainly would have been better than letting the shot clock run out.
Though I'm not so sure why some seem to think that making a legitimate attempt to score is such a bad idea. Ideally, McNeal waits a few more seconds, but I also understand that he saw the lane and took it.  No guarantee he would have gotten a better, or even similar, shot had he held the ball longer.

[g0lden3agle]

So can anyone actually answer the question posed in the subject line?

This would help a lot in this debate.  Although, even if he said he told the players to take the first best shot they had, how are we sure he isn't just taking some heat of the players? (Weak argument)

To those that say Jerel shouldn't be the one with the ball, who has been the best player on the team to create their own shot off the dribble throughout the season?  Let's say this is an NBA game, Lakers/Heat/Cavs are in a tight game-changing play, but Kobe/Wade/Lebron hasn't been hot that night... who gets the ball at the end of the game?  Kobe/Wade/Lebron would STILL get the ball in favor of their supporting casts.  Now obviously Jerel to our team isn't the same as those guys to their NBA teams, but the same kinda rule should apply.  No matter how bad your stars are playing, they are still gonna get the nod in the end of the game.

[Pardner]

Thst certainly would have been better than letting the shot clock run out.
Though I'm not so sure why some seem to think that making a legitimate attempt to score is such a bad idea. Ideally, McNeal waits a few more seconds, but I also understand that he saw the lane and took it.  No guarantee he would have gotten a better, or even similar, shot had he held the ball longer.

Problem with chucking a long three is a long rebound...and easy break out.  You have to go to the hole there and draw the foul (and hope a BE official has the guts to make the call).  A short rebound off a driving lay-up can be contested, tipped, etc...which Jimmy was in position to do.  And, if you are a coach, at the end of the BET game, don't you want your All-BE/AA senior guard taking this shot and free throws?  

If Jerel makes a lay-up and no FT's, MU has a three point lead and has the option to foul in the frontcourt for 2 FT's (see Kansas vs. Memphis) or just lay back and protect the trey line (no foul).  If Jerel makes the hoop and the FT, game over.  

Per other thread, why doesn't Wright foul there?  I couldn't believe he wouldn't want to extend the game and put Mo on the line.  Still a one shot game with plenty of time.  Buzz didn't call a time out there as he was waiting for Nova to foul.  Maybe he could have taken one at 18 seconds on the shot clock to set up a play on O, be sure of his D and rest the guys....but that gives Nova a chance to set up a strategy (which he was ripped against SU last week for doing).

[ATWizJr]

Yeah, I'd rather give up the ball on the sideline with 5 seconds to play and no timeout than to give it up with 13 seconds to play and no timeout.  Pretty obvious and easy answer.

And yeah, I do think we all know how it feels at this point to lose a BET game having all just suffered through this frustrating loss.

[Big Papi]

Yeah, I'd rather give up the ball on the sideline with 5 seconds to play and no timeout than to give it up with 13 seconds to play and no timeout.  Pretty obvious and easy answer.

And yeah, I do think we all know how it feels at this point to lose a BET game having all just suffered through this frustrating loss.

Yea and I would rather give Nova the ball with 10 seconds left and a 3 point lead than give Nova the ball on the sideline with 5 seconds to play and only up 1.

[mr.MUskie]

Isnt' it obvious ... Buzz told Jerel to take an ill-timed three with less than a minute to play and then leave his man wide open under the basket with seconds remaining.

The basketball genius around here never ceases to amaze.
Seriously, though, it's either really funny, or really pathetic (can't yet make up my mind which) that some would choose to attack a coach after his severely undermanned team rallies from a 17-point deficit against a deeper, more talented, better rested and higer-seeded opponent only to lose in heartbreaking fashion.
The way the game ended sucked, but Buzz did a hell of a coaching job in that second half.

Then maybe somebody should tell Buzz it's a 2 half game.  They wasted a lot of energy coming back from that 17 point deficit.

[soloWarrior]

Isnt' it obvious ... Buzz told Jerel to take an ill-timed three with less than a minute to play and then leave his man wide open under the basket with seconds remaining.

The basketball genius around here never ceases to amaze.
Seriously, though, it's either really funny, or really pathetic (can't yet make up my mind which) that some would choose to attack a coach after his severely undermanned team rallies from a 17-point deficit against a deeper, more talented, better rested and higer-seeded opponent only to lose in heartbreaking fashion.
The way the game ended sucked, but Buzz did a hell of a coaching job in that second half.

Buzz coached as poorly in the second half as he did in the 1st half...we just made shots in the second half.  I suppose we can't be critical of coach b/c we're fans...you should write for the NYTimes

[ATWizJr]

It's perfectly fine to be an MU fan and still be critical of the way the game was mismanaged in the final minute.


You may not like it, but, we blew it and you could tell from the demeanor of buzz, wes and jimmy at the postgame presser that they were all shocked and depressed and that, as wes said, they " gave it away".  His words, not mine.  Anyone wonder why Mcneal was not on the dais?

[soloWarrior]

It's perfectly fine to be an MU fan and still be critical of the way the game was mismanaged in the final minute.


You may not like it, but, we blew it and you could tell from the demeanor of buzz, wes and jimmy at the postgame presser that they were all shocked and depressed and that, as wes said, they " gave it away".  His words, not mine.  Anyone wonder why Mcneal was not on the dais?

10-4 - McNeal needs to man-up and answer questions when he fails or makes a mistake.  He's the first one to jump around and search for a microphone when he does well. Not surprised that Wes said, we "gave it away"...he's a very honest cat. 

McNeal's character is being exposed due to DJ's injury....that is...it's my way or the highway.  McNeal is a great talent but I feel like BUZZ coddles him too much.  BUZZ started that bologna after the ND game...blah...blah...blah...."Jerel is the best player I've ever coached."  No one needs to hear that...not an NBA player...much less a college athlete