That Bazz Pushing Boat Moment

[Dove]

Deep down I think Calipari had us and some how could not beat this team. He had no fouls on his starters and then started pummeling our interior, scoring at will and getting fouls on us. I thought UConn was on the ropes.

During this time of stress we saw something we never saw during the season...unless I missed it. We saw Boat unhinge and get off the same page as Bazz. To a point where Boat passes to Bazz on the sideline and then proceeded to try and pass him only to be pushed backward by Bazz. Boat fell back a bit and the Huskies had to regroup. I seriously thought the wheels were coming off there.

What the heck happened? Did a timeout get the lug nuts tightened up again?

I will look forward to another replay of the game. I missed the one last night.

 

[nomar]

I think the wheels were coming off a bit. Boat and Bazz both made some lazy passes and were playing more sloppily than usual. And there was the incident you alluded to, which, if we lost, would probably have put a damper on our run.

I don't know what happened to get us back on track, but I had to bet, I'd say that Bazz and Boat moved on right after it happened. They've been through a lot together, and much worse probably happens in practice every day. By the time this team started clicking, Boat understood that Bazz was the captain of the ship, so while his body language immediately after getting pushed wasn't great, I would bet that it rolled off him within seconds.

It certainly was an interesting thing to see.

 

[jibsey]

In the press conference I think bazz had his arm around Boat. This kind of thing that happens when running plays gets way blown up. BTW, I DVR'ed the game and the second watching is more enjoyable than the first, the 5th will be better than the 4th.........

 

[uconn_jack]

Brothers fight. Dad (Ollie) gave Bazz a time-out and all was fine after that.

 

[Final4 42]

I think there was a bit of frustration and fatigue in that moment.

This would have been a big discussion if we lost but winning is the best cure for any problems.

 

[bobbygt]

I definitely had a sense of foreboding when that happened.

As I recall, there was either a tv timeout or Ollie called a timeout shortly after this occurred (was this when Bazz was heading to the line for some fts?), because I remember wanting to see Boat's body language as he headed back onto the court. He looked totally fine so I felt much better, but didn't I read somewhere that Boat couldn't hear anything because of the crowd and was confused about what Bazz wanted him to do (?).

 

[Inyatkin]

They had had a run-in earlier when they both jumped to save the same loose ball going out of bounds. Napier I think thought it was his to get, and neither of them ended up with it.
I didn't think anything of it. As someone else said, siblings bicker all the time. They were on the same page when it mattered.

 

[8893]

I'm not gonna lie--that moment scared the cr@p out of me. I thought "Bad 'Bazz" was finally rearing his head again and that the wheels were coming off the bus. I was impressed that they both got over it so quickly. Imo that was a huge difference for the team in this run; they didn't get in a funk for any extended period. In retrospect, I love that moment and it will be one I watch for every time I re-watch the game.

 

[superjohn]

I was a little nervous, didn't think Bazz should have pushed him and Boat gave him a quick glare. They were probably both a bit fatigued and frustrated, the good thing is it lasted about 2 seconds and then was over with. They both got back on the same page and made huge plays down the stretch. Bazz and Boat are both alphas and point guards, I'm surprised this sort of thing didn't happen more during the season. This team is as special as it gets.

 

[Scoe]

Bazz and Boat were definitely exhausted near the end there, but they gutted it out. Both are fiery competitive players that not just want to win but demand to win, having that inner MJ mentality.

 

[8893]

Bazz and Boat are both alphas and point guards,

That's it, in a nutshell.

I'm surprised this sort of thing didn't happen more during the season. This team is as special as it gets.

I saw less and less in each of the past three seasons, but I still saw it this season more than I would have cared for--which was the number one reason I had reservations about our ability to string together six games without it being an issue. I can't say enough good things about Bazz and his sack, especially down the stretch. But I would credit Boat's sublimation of his own ego as the number one factor in making this less and less of an issue.

I was also looking at Bazz's and Boat's mothers during that time and wondering what they were thinking. I'm sure there's some alpha mom stuff there, too; and loads of mutual respect.

 

[Marat]

I was also quite concerned things were about to fly south, and luckily nothing came of it.

If you remember there was a game earlier this season (was it Cincy?), when Bazz was so frustrated after a defensive lapse by Boat that he decided to immediately foul to get a timeout?

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Credit should be given to Ollie as well for "resting" bazz for a couple minutes right after that while letting boat stay out there and run the team during that time. Unquestionably helped boat's confidence by Ollie showing him that love.

 

[Waquoit]

I think Boat's handling of the incident was just more proof that he took the leap over the last month. It became all about winning for him, he was a total team player. I hope he decides to come back, he's ready to take the reins.

 

[BUHusky]

If you remember there was a game earlier this season (was it Cincy?), when Bazz was so frustrated after a defensive lapse by Boat that he decided to immediately foul to get a timeout?

That was the Rutgers game on senior night. I was at Gampel for that and remember how weird it was. If I recall the lead was still only 2 possessions and Bazz fouling the Rutgers guy put him at the line. So odd.

Oh well, brothers fight and then make up later. That's just how it is. But let there be no doubt, Bazz and Boat consider each other brothers. They've said it many time before and they'll be saying it many times in the future.

 

[sportsart]

I thought I read that Boat and Bazz are roommates. If true then it's just brotherly "love" we've been witnessing. Boat should do well next year. He proved he is ready to lead.

 

[champs99and04]

I think Boat's handling of the incident was just more proof that he took the leap over the last month. It became all about winning for him, he was a total team player. I hope he decides to come back, he's ready to take the reins.

I think it has been all about winning for him the whole season. The difference between March and the other months is that his jumper started to fall.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

I was severely worried too.
Thought the team, was about to implode.

Thankfully they regrouped.
I thought Ollie taking out Bazz and allowing Boat, to run the show, for a couple minutes..
was HUGE.

 

[SubbaBub]

The underlying reason for this championship was Boat's commitment on the defensive end and his recognition that forcing the ball to the hoop isn't worth much if he can't finish amongst the trees. His move to the pull up jumper, kick to DD/Giff, or pulling it back out if it's not there brought a whole new dimension to the offense. His on-ball defense was the difference maker on D.

If the spirit of Senhor T was about sacking up to do what needed doing, then Boat gets my vote for the Tournament and should serve as lesson to future players that team play trumps individual play, always. It was not an accident that nearly every commentator was suddenly using Boatright and Napier when discussing the team during the run.

 

[boog204]

I'm not gonna lie--that moment scared the cr@p out of me. I thought "Bad 'Bazz" was finally rearing his head again and that the wheels were coming off the bus. I was impressed that they both got over it so quickly. Imo that was a huge difference for the team in this run; they didn't get in a funk for any extended period. In retrospect, I love that moment and it will be one I watch for every time I re-watch the game.

It kind of did. There was a 5 minute span where it was Soph Bazz out there. He took an ill advised shot or two, made a dumb turnover on his own, then a bad decision by thinking Nolan could handle that pass in the lane, and then inexplicably decided to pass up a wide open 3 on the baseline to try and get cute. At that point, I will truly admit, I thought we were toast as it seemed as if Bazz had lost his composure. Then KO sits him and Bazz comes back over the last 5 minutes to hit a huge 3, a huge 2, the lob to DD and the pass to LK to ice the game.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Deep down I think Calipari had us and some how could not beat this team. No fouls on his starters and then the pummeling of the interior, scoring at will and getting fouls. I thought UConn was on the ropes.

During this time of stress we saw something we never saw during the season...unless I missed it. We saw Boat unhinge and get off the same page as Bazz. To a point where Boat passes to Bazz on the sideline and then proceeded to try and pass him only to be pushed backward bu BAzz. Boat fell back a bit and the Huskies had to regroup. I seriously thought the wheels were coming off there.

What the heck happened? Did a timeout get the lug nuts tightened up again?

I will look forward to another replay of the game. I missed the one last night.

Dove,
Bazz and Boat have been at odds at many times during the season. KO has even remarked about it. I saw it in the USF game down hear in Tampa in person.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

It kind of did. There was a 5 minute span where it was Soph Bazz out there. He took an ill advised shot or two, made a dumb turnover on his own, then a bad decision by thinking Nolan could handle that pass in the lane, and then inexplicably decided to pass up a wide open 3 on the baseline to try and get cute. At that point, I will truly admit, I thought we were toast as it seemed as if Bazz had lost his composure. Then KO sits him and Bazz comes back over the last 5 minutes to hit a huge 3, a huge 2, the lob to DD and the pass to LK to ice the game.

Without the Boat/Bazz miscommunication I'm not sure Ollie takes him out. Ollie wanted to let Bazz chill out for a couple minutes and get the 2 of them away from each other for a bit. In a tourney where he made so many great moves that might have been his best.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

Without the Boat/Bazz miscommunication I'm not sure Ollie takes him out. Ollie wanted to let Bazz chill out for a couple minutes and get the 2 of them away from each other for a bit. In a tourney where he made so many great moves that might have been his best.

It looked to me that Bazz was feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders and was not reacting well to the unforced errors that the Huskies were making. When I later heard that he had mouthed "We...Got...This" to the UConn fans sometime before might have made the weight even heavier. I think his mind moves much faster than normal humans on the basketball court and can get frustrated when they don't get what he gets. On the ball going out of bounds, he wanted Boat to have known to stay in bounds so he would have had someone to tip it to (basically said this in the post-game interview). He got himself back together and brought it home. Major props to Boat for not losing focus.

 

[jostar1]

I read or heard that Boat got the play wrong and was going in the wrong direction and Bazz
pushed him in the correct direction.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

It looked to me that Bazz was feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders and was not reacting well to the unforced errors that the Huskies were making. When I later heard that he had mouthed "We...Got...This" to the UConn fans sometime before might have made the weight even heavier. I think his mind moves much faster than normal humans on the basketball court and can get frustrated when they don't get what he gets. On the ball going out of bounds, he wanted Boat to have known to stay in bounds so he would have had someone to tip it to (basically said this in the post-game interview). He got himself back together and brought it home. Major props to Boat for not losing focus.

I think Bazz was just extremely frustrated by the way we ended the last 5 mins of the first half (when he was out there without Boat and DD who were both sitting with 2) and the way we started the 2nd. Not sure if I'd say he felt the pressure, I just think he was pissed off at how the game was flowing.

On the out of bounds play, I think Bazz should have let Boat be the one to chase it, neither one was any closer than the other and Boat is quicker than Bazz. It seemed like Bazz realized it too and looked like he did a "my bad" sort of gesture right after.