[Cracked Sidewalks] MU plays WVU brilliantly for 38 minutes and then Greg Norman shows up

[CrackedSidewalksSays]

MU plays WVU brilliantly for 38 minutes and then Greg Norman shows up

Written by: noreply@blogger.com (muwarrior92)

Buzz Williams had Marquette playing brilliantly tonight at #6 West Virginia.  Despite being outsized at every position, the Golden Eagles took it to the Mountaineers the entire game.  Using their quickness, pressure defense and outstanding 3 point shooting, MU led the Mountaineers by 4 points with just over 1 minute to play AND THE BALL.

That's when Greg Norman showed up and the gag was on.



 



With 1:04 to play, DJO took the ball to the rim and missed, but got a rebound.  He had the option of taking it back out with a new clock or go back up for the shot.  He chose the latter.  DJO was fouled...two shots from the line.  The first free throw rimmed in and out.  The second one was true, MU now up 5 points with a minute to play.

Buzz Williams instructed his team to foul WVU as the Golden Eagles only had committed 4 fouls at this point.  Mo Acker was the first to oblige, fouling with :56 seconds remaining.  Nine seconds later, Acker did it again, forcing WVU to again take the ball out of bounds.  Six seconds later, WVU was down 3 points after a Kevin Jones layup.

MU now up three with the ball, moved the ball to the front court and DJO was fouled again with 24 seconds on the clock.  This time, his free throw wasn't close, barely touching the front of the rim.  

 WVU rebounded with a chance to tie or cut the lead to one point.  It took all of 6 seconds for Ebanks to go to the hoop and get an uncontested slam dunk.  MU running the OLE defense apparently.

MU now up 1 point with 18 seconds left and everyone in the building knowing that this is going to end like the Florida State game....we didn't disappoint.  The ball was inbounded to Jimmy Butler who drove up the sideline and was fouled Joe Mazulla.  Butler to the line for a 1 and 1.

Butler managed to miss the free throw and WVU, with no timeouts, took the ball down the court and made a turn around jumper with 2 seconds left.  MU attempted a desperation pass and shot to win the game that never had a chance.

MU managed to lose a 5 point lead in the final minute, three times having the ball, making 1 point at the line out of a potential 6 points, and allowing WVU to score at will.

A shame, MU played well for 38+ minutes and deserved to win....something we've seen and heard several times before this year.  MU slips to 0-1 in the Big East and 9-4 overall.  The Golden Eagles were led by senior sensation Lazar Hayward who posted another 20+ point performance and seems to have found his offensive touch from the outside.

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2009/12/mu-plays-wvu-brilliantly-for-38-minutes.html