YES!! I hate the end of game strategy, but will take it

[Eye]

With Buzz being such a big numbers guy, I'd guess this is something he's figured out in the offseason with a formula. Plug in the opponents 3-point percentage, FT percentage, whether it's one-and-one, etc. and have a decision based upon that when you're in that 5- to 10-second middle ground. It's something I'd want to have decided ahead of time before the game depending upon on the opponent.

[Daniel]

I was never a fan of the last second fould in cases like this - too many variables with stopping the clock, rebounds, etc.  They had to defend the arc - but we did let them get an open three in the final seconds, which was frustrating.

[Lennys Tap]

Stop.  It's the wrong call.  When you have one of the worst teams in America shooting the free throw, you foul them at the end.  Same thing Syracuse did so well the other night against G'Town.  You don't even give them the chance.  That was a wide open 3 point look and we got lucky it didn't go in.

I'm thrilled with the win, I think the strategy on that last play was wrong and I'm not the only one that will think that way.

But it's a win and I'm thrilled with it.  I don't care who the coach is, you foul before they even get into 3 point shooting mode with a team like Cincinnati.  That is the proper call, even someone with a "poor basketball IQ" knows that.

I would normally agree with you but we are so small and struggle so much with defensive rebounding that I think this MU team is an exception.

[Eye]

I just don't think it's as cut and dry as you make it Chicos. You could be right, and I don't think enough coaches consider it.

But I think there's a good argument with this particular matchup not to foul. MU is third in the conference in 3-point D, Cincy is 15th in the conference in 3-point percentage. UC also is tops in the Big East in offensive rebounding percentage. With a bigger team against a team like cuse that shoots the 3 well but doesn't shoot FTs well, I'd go for it. Less than 5 seconds, yes. If the other team is in the 1-and-1 (I assume Cincy was shooting 2 by that point), yes. But maybe not in this particular spot.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Then why don't the vast majority of NCAA and NBA coaches do that?  You think Buzz hasn't crunched the numbers and tried to figure out the optimal play there?  

Option one:

Play perimeter defense, knowing that the have to shoot a three so you don't have to respect a dribble drive.  

Option two:

You give them a chance to make one free throw (assume it's one of their worst free throw shooters, a 50% proposition), intentionally miss the second, and then let one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country have a chance for a put back?

You can take option two with your team, the people who actually run basketball programs will take option two.  

I guess Jim Boeheim, potential National Coach of the Year disagrees with you.  Same situation the other night, on the road at G'Town.  He fouls G'Town immediately, before they even get up past the half court. 

If that 3 had gone in.....ugh.  Season killer.   

It was wide open.  Why give a kid a chance to make a wide open 3 vs having this scenario

Kid gets two free throws, has to make BOTH, have MU in bound the ball, foul MU, hope MU misses free throws and then go the length of the court to tie or win.   

OR

Make one free throw, miss the second, get the rebound, score....you're asking a ton.

There's just so much more that you have to do in either of the other two scenarios.

I'm going with the foul in most situations, especially with a Cincinnati team that can't shoot free throws and considering the time on the clock. 

It's not something I would do EVERY TIME, but in this case, with this UC team, I would have.  I'm just glad the kid missed a wide open three or that would have been a killer dagger and all the momentum on their squad going to OT #2.


Interesting articles on the subject...I'll go with the numbers.  Foul the guy


http://howtowatchsports.com/2010/02/by-the-numbers-to-foul-or-not-to-foul-when-up-by-three/


http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n9_v221/ai_19182458/

[CrazyEcho]

*deleted

[MR.HAYWARD]

chicos thinks all analogies are apples to apples when it offers an opportunity to rip on Buzz.  Syracuse fouling with a 3 point lead is completely different han Mu fouling.  Syracuse can go 6'10 250 and 6'10 250 on the low blocks on amissed rebound.  we go 6'6 on both sides  they can put ibrahima and another 6'10 guy there.  I think after watching Cincy offensive rebound the ball and put it back in all day long not fouling is the thing to do.  We are not syracuse, we do not have their size and we do not rebound like them or come anywhere near Cincinattis's size.  comparing us to syracuse in the ability to rebound the basketball is stupid

[babytownfrolics]

edit: No personal attacks.

[Lennys Tap]

I guess Jim Boeheim, potential National Coach of the Year disagrees with you.  Same situation the other night, on the road at G'Town.  He fouls G'Town immediately, before they even get up past the half court. 

If that 3 had gone in.....ugh.  Season killer.   

It was wide open.  Why give a kid a chance to make a wide open 3 vs having this scenario

Kid gets two free throws, has to make BOTH, have MU in bound the ball, foul MU, hope MU misses free throws and then go the length of the court to tie or win.   

OR

Make one free throw, miss the second, get the rebound, score....you're asking a ton.

There's just so much more that you have to do in either of the other two scenarios.

I'm going with the foul in most situations, especially with a Cincinnati team that can't shoot free throws and considering the time on the clock. 

It's not something I would do EVERY TIME, but in this case, with this UC team, I would have.  I'm just glad the kid missed a wide open three or that would have been a killer dagger and all the momentum on their squad going to OT #2.


Interesting articles on the subject...I'll go with the numbers.  Foul the guy


http://howtowatchsports.com/2010/02/by-the-numbers-to-foul-or-not-to-foul-when-up-by-three/


http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n9_v221/ai_19182458/

If I had Boeheim's 6'11" and 6'10" wide body studs to rebound a missed free throw I would foul every time in that situation. With our midgets no way. We ROUTINELY give up offensive rebounds off missed free throws. Because of that I wouldn't give them the chance to tie or worse yet beat us with an offensive rebound.

[TJ]

Most coaches would not foul.  too may bad thing could happen.

My limited experience watching games tells me this is the case.

[tower912]

Chico, what would Crean do?    Since we all know that whatever he does is the best.   

[pillardean]

I don't see a purpose of extending the game when you are winning.

I can see why you would do it when losing, but fouling when winning just brings up a whole new set of circumstances.  If you don't foul they either make the shot or don't.  If you foul they can get rebound, you can get rebound and fouled with less than a second tick off and have a big-who probably isn't a good ft shooter take shots-etc.

I wouldn't foul.  I'd MAKE THEM MAKE A HELLUVA PLAY.