It is the Pitino strategy. Find out how the referees will call the game very early on, and play accordingly. It goes something like this:
1) Offensively, take it to the rim. Depending on how the referees want to call it, you will either get fouled or get easy hoops. You saw it tonight. LV was clearly the more aggressive team going to the hoop at the start of the game.
2) Defensively, defend to the point of fouling, and see what the officials call. More often than not, officials will allow contact (new rules go out the window). This plays well into LV's defensive strength.
3) You continue doing 1) and 2) until the referees have no option but to play "your" game. LV's game, is to attack. Get the other team out of sync and off their game.
One problem with the UConn team and the guards in general, is that, they stop going to the rim if they drive and do not get a foul called. You can't do that, IMO. They must continue to go to the rim, no matter what. Eventually, the officials will start making the calls. Do not go off your game (quickness to the basket) because the officials are missing the fouls.
Bottom line, however, is LV played better. Their players came through with big plays and our players, specifically our bigs and DD, simply did not play well. Credit LV for that, officials had little to do with that.
It is a loss. Move on.
