- Joined
- Sep 12, 2011
- Messages
- 225
- Reaction Score
- 848
I submit that the criticisms of Coach are fair.
I thought there was more than adequate opportunity to foul McBride before she shot, as she dribbled to get herself set. It places her on the line for 2 shots down 3 with about 6 seconds left, and Bonita Spence nowhere in sight. McBride then has to hit the first, miss the second on purpose while still hitting the rim. ND then must coral the offensive rebound and score - all working out perfectly in roughly 5 seconds. As a general rule, it's not quite so black and white - one has to make sure the player isn't shooting, etc... But in this particular instance, there was no way for McBride to adjust off her dribble had UConn had decided to let the clock run a few secs before fouling her.
Reminds me of the Coach Belichick decision in Super Bowl XLVI to let the Giants score a TD giving Brady the ball back with 50 seconds to go, down 4, instead of defending a game winning FG from about 21 yards out as time expired. I'm a massive Giant fan but that was an outside the box call few others would have done (including Coach Coughlin I suspect), from a brilliant outside the box coach giving his team the best chance to win.
As for the rest - I didn't agree with Coach's rotations - particularly with respect to the point, especially as it became more apparent that Doty and to a lesser extent Hartly were having real difficulty running the offense. Granted Jefferson committed a foolish turnover almost immediately upon entering the game - but putting a freshman in a game like this at the point after sitting for so long is a very tough task. I'd have much preferred to have Jefferson - with her phenomenal recovery speed and best on team lateral movement - harassing Diggins for long spells, with Faris the best choice to defend McBride.
I also thought there were opportunities down the final stretch and the end of the first 2 OT's to go offense - defense, Red Holzman-style, with Stokes on defense, especially after Dolson fouled out. Stokes has shown to be a superior defensive rebounder and shot blocker.
Lastly, I thought the offense often placed players with questionable handles in positions where they could easily be harassed (and doubled). E.g. Dolson at the high block in traffic, where she was forced her to pass or dribble facing the basket, leading to an astonishing 11 turnovers, and 6-14 shooting. Same with Stewart - 5 turnovers, 1-7 shooting, including 3 threes, all of which she missed.
As for the rest - I'm with the consensus - even with all that the game was ultimately lost at the foul line. But I'd love to see a statistical breakdown of Dennis Demayo's calls. His "attacking the player with one's throat" call against Dolson defied belief.
I thought there was more than adequate opportunity to foul McBride before she shot, as she dribbled to get herself set. It places her on the line for 2 shots down 3 with about 6 seconds left, and Bonita Spence nowhere in sight. McBride then has to hit the first, miss the second on purpose while still hitting the rim. ND then must coral the offensive rebound and score - all working out perfectly in roughly 5 seconds. As a general rule, it's not quite so black and white - one has to make sure the player isn't shooting, etc... But in this particular instance, there was no way for McBride to adjust off her dribble had UConn had decided to let the clock run a few secs before fouling her.
Reminds me of the Coach Belichick decision in Super Bowl XLVI to let the Giants score a TD giving Brady the ball back with 50 seconds to go, down 4, instead of defending a game winning FG from about 21 yards out as time expired. I'm a massive Giant fan but that was an outside the box call few others would have done (including Coach Coughlin I suspect), from a brilliant outside the box coach giving his team the best chance to win.
As for the rest - I didn't agree with Coach's rotations - particularly with respect to the point, especially as it became more apparent that Doty and to a lesser extent Hartly were having real difficulty running the offense. Granted Jefferson committed a foolish turnover almost immediately upon entering the game - but putting a freshman in a game like this at the point after sitting for so long is a very tough task. I'd have much preferred to have Jefferson - with her phenomenal recovery speed and best on team lateral movement - harassing Diggins for long spells, with Faris the best choice to defend McBride.
I also thought there were opportunities down the final stretch and the end of the first 2 OT's to go offense - defense, Red Holzman-style, with Stokes on defense, especially after Dolson fouled out. Stokes has shown to be a superior defensive rebounder and shot blocker.
Lastly, I thought the offense often placed players with questionable handles in positions where they could easily be harassed (and doubled). E.g. Dolson at the high block in traffic, where she was forced her to pass or dribble facing the basket, leading to an astonishing 11 turnovers, and 6-14 shooting. Same with Stewart - 5 turnovers, 1-7 shooting, including 3 threes, all of which she missed.
As for the rest - I'm with the consensus - even with all that the game was ultimately lost at the foul line. But I'd love to see a statistical breakdown of Dennis Demayo's calls. His "attacking the player with one's throat" call against Dolson defied belief.
