The Timeout?

[oldude]

Last night I, and many other BY’ers, assumed that Christyn should have called a timeout immediately after securing a rebound with a little over 3 seconds left in the game in order for UConn to advance the ball to half court and draw up a last play to tie the game. Some have also suggested that the bench or Christyn’s teammates could have called the timeout.

At that point in the game, a timeout was certainly warranted and everyone on UConn could have called it immediately, but didn’t. Why not? Listening to Geno’s take after the game, the answer is a little more complicated.

The first question put to Geno in the postgame presser was about that play. At first he said, “It was going to be a timeout.” But he went on to say, “We talked about it in the huddle and if there was enough time it was going to be a breakaway.” If I understand what Geno was getting at it sounds like he may have overcoached the situation.

The initial thought appears to be that if Arkansas took a shot with enough time on the clock, UConn would not call timeout, but would push the ball up the court with a much better opportunity to get an open look from the arc. This makes sense. But the problem was that AR is an experienced, well coached team that was not going to take a shot until the last possible second. In fact it was so close to the shot clock expiration that the referees really couldn’t tell on the replay, and they ended up sticking with the call on the floor, that the AR player had released the shot before the shot clock expired.

That being the case, Plan B was for UConn to call timeout immediately. The problem with this two-tiered plan is that it puts enormous responsibility on the players on the court, specifically Christyn, to play tough defense, box out, secure the rebound and be aware of exactly how much time was left on the clock to be able to determine whether to push the ball up the court or immediately call timeout.

I know UConn has some really intelligent basketball players but that’s a lot to put on a player at the end of an intense game. So I for one don’t hold Christyn responsible. Geno needed to keep it simple. “Get the rebound and call timeout.”

With that said, one play doesn’t determine whether you win or lose the game, and there was no guarantee that if UConn had immediately called a timeout they would have been able to knock down a 3 to tie the game....and they still would have needed to win it in OT.

 

[bluedevil]

Last night I, and many other BY’ers, assumed that Christyn should have called a timeout immediately after securing a rebound with a little over 3 seconds left in the game in order for UConn to advance the ball to half court and draw up a last play to tie the game. Some have also suggested that the bench or Christyn’s teammates could have called the timeout.

At that point in the game, a timeout was certainly warranted and everyone on UConn could have called it immediately, but didn’t. Why not? Listening to Geno’s take after the game, the answer is a little more complicated.

The first question put to Geno in the postgame presser was about that play. At first he said, “It was going to be a timeout.” But he went on to say, “We talked about it in the huddle and if there was enough time it was going to be a breakaway.” If I understand what Geno was getting at it sounds like he may have overcoached the situation.

The initial thought appears to be that if Arkansas took a shot with enough time on the clock, UConn would not call timeout, but would push the ball up the court with a much better opportunity to get an open look from the arc. This makes sense. But the problem was that AR is an experienced, well coached team that was not going to take a shot until the last possible second. In fact it was so close to the shot clock expiration that the referees really couldn’t tell on the replay, and they ended up sticking with the call on the floor, that the AR player had released the shot before the shot clock expired.

That being the case, Plan B was for UConn to call timeout immediately. The problem with this two-tiered plan is that it puts enormous responsibility on the players on the court, specifically Christyn, to play tough defense, box out, secure the rebound and be aware of exactly how much time was left on the clock to be able to determine whether to push the ball up the court or immediately call timeout.

I know UConn has some really intelligent basketball players but that’s a lot to put on a player at the end of an intense game. So I for one don’t hold Christen responsible. Geno needed to keep it simple. “Get the rebound and call timeout.”

With that said, one play doesn’t determine whether you win or lose the game, and there was no guarantee that if UConn had immediately called a timeout they would have been able to knock down a 3 to tie the game....and they still would have needed to win it in OT.

Totally agree..no guarantee they could have made a three to tie...Ark knew they just had to guard the 3 pt line since a drive to the basket was not going to help.

 

[BobbyJ]

Last night I, and many other BY’ers, assumed that Christyn should have called a timeout immediately after securing a rebound with a little over 3 seconds left in the game in order for UConn to advance the ball to half court and draw up a last play to tie the game. Some have also suggested that the bench or Christyn’s teammates could have called the timeout.

At that point in the game, a timeout was certainly warranted and everyone on UConn could have called it immediately, but didn’t. Why not? Listening to Geno’s take after the game, the answer is a little more complicated.

The first question put to Geno in the postgame presser was about that play. At first he said, “It was going to be a timeout.” But he went on to say, “We talked about it in the huddle and if there was enough time it was going to be a breakaway.” If I understand what Geno was getting at it sounds like he may have overcoached the situation.

The initial thought appears to be that if Arkansas took a shot with enough time on the clock, UConn would not call timeout, but would push the ball up the court with a much better opportunity to get an open look from the arc. This makes sense. But the problem was that AR is an experienced, well coached team that was not going to take a shot until the last possible second. In fact it was so close to the shot clock expiration that the referees really couldn’t tell on the replay, and they ended up sticking with the call on the floor, that the AR player had released the shot before the shot clock expired.

That being the case, Plan B was for UConn to call timeout immediately. The problem with this two-tiered plan is that it puts enormous responsibility on the players on the court, specifically Christyn, to play tough defense, box out, secure the rebound and be aware of exactly how much time was left on the clock to be able to determine whether to push the ball up the court or immediately call timeout.

I know UConn has some really intelligent basketball players but that’s a lot to put on a player at the end of an intense game. So I for one don’t hold Christen responsible. Geno needed to keep it simple. “Get the rebound and call timeout.”

With that said, one play doesn’t determine whether you win or lose the game, and there was no guarantee that if UConn had immediately called a timeout they would have been able to knock down a 3 to tie the game....and they still would have needed to win it in OT.

An experienced kid who thinks the game and was NOT the on ball defender would have known as the offense held the ball 30 feet from the basket that they were not going to take a quick shot. There was time to take a couple glances at the shot clock and know you'd need a fast timeout. She was just unaware.

 

[victor64]

Since the coach can call timeout, Geno should
have had the attention of the official when he saw Arkansas was going to use the whole shot clock.

 

[huskyd]

If we need to be contemplating the vagaries of the time-out, we're probably not wondering about the real problem, which is why did the game come down to the last seconds?
As a poster wrote, the team was in real trouble by halftime, and things didn't improve much afterwards. We fell into an 11-point hole, dug our way out, took the lead, lost the lead and the game. We lost for many reasons. The 2 most important are that we couldn't score enough to overcome the fact that we played no defense.
I was surprised how mad posters were on the Chat after the game. Most of their comments were directed at specific players. Liv didn't show up. Well, she did, but no one could get her the ball--need the ball to score (or get fouled). Also, it's difficult to rebound when every opponent shot winds up in the net.
UConn has historically had hiccups with defending the perimeter and with small, quick guards that can penetrate. You have to tip your hat to the Razorback guards; they were spectacular.
But Paige and Evina were super, too. It's a fact that the homecoming queen bombed, but, hey, it happens. Buckets didn't look so hot in the Tenn. game--until she entered legend at the end.
I hate to lose. It makes me physically ill. I'm spoiled, and it's all Geno's fault. But we're all uphill from this not really tragic moment. We will survive. We will prosper.

 

[BostonBay]

The fault lies with both Geno & CW. Geno should have been yelling to his team during the TO to call timeout after the Ark FTs - no matter what. Also, CW had the confused, head-in-the-clouds look when she grabbed the rebound She realized a few seconds too late she made a mistake. This is just symbolic of how this team plays against good competition - no confidence & confusion.

 

[oldude]

An experienced kid who thinks the game and was NOT the on ball defender would have known as the offense held the ball 30 feet from the basket that they were not going to take a quick shot. There was time to take a couple glances at the shot clock and know you'd need a fast timeout. She was just unaware.

As I commented elsewhere, Christyn was not the only UConn player on the court who could have glanced at the shot clock and called for a timeout.

 

[oldude]

Since the coach can call timeout, Geno should
have had the attention of the official when he saw Arkansas was going to use the whole shot clock.

I tend to side with your argument more than putting it all on Christyn. But as I pointed out, the officials were at the other end of the court. From the tape it appears that the timeout was in fact called from the bench. It may simply come down to a couple of seconds for one official to acknowledge Geno’s request for a timeout and then blow the whistle. **it happens.....

 

[oldude]

The fault lies with both Geno & CW. Geno should have been yelling to his team during the TO to call timeout after the Ark FTs - no matter what. Also, CW had the confused, head-in-the-clouds look when she grabbed the rebound She realized a few seconds too late she made a mistake. This is just symbolic of how this team plays against good competition - no confidence & confusion.

Ark FT’s? What FT’s? Ark got the ball with 34 seconds on the clock and put up a shot with 4 seconds left. Christyn came down with the rebound with maybe 3 seconds left, at which time she started to head up the court. The UConn bench called for a timeout, but by the time the refs recognized that request and blue their whistles, we were left with 0.3 seconds.

Despite all that, UConn got a great look and Evina threw up a really quick shot from the corner that had a legitimate chance of tying up the game before bouncing out.

 

[oldude]

I was surprised how mad posters were on the Chat after the game. Most of their comments were directed at specific players.

I left the chat room last season because I found the in-game criticism of players and coaches to be petty, emotionally harsh and frequently lacking any real understanding of the game itself. As a result, I am able to enjoy the games to a far greater extent.

The only problem is that following a game like last night, many chat room fire breathers migrate immediately to my Postgame Thread and continue to spew the vitriol that makes me wonder if I accidentally posted a thread on VolNation, where the in-game and postgame comments are all part of the same thread.

 

[npignatjr]

If we need to be contemplating the vagaries of the time-out, we're probably not wondering about the real problem, which is why did the game come down to the last seconds?
As a poster wrote, the team was in real trouble by halftime, and things didn't improve much afterwards. We fell into an 11-point hole, dug our way out, took the lead, lost the lead and the game. We lost for many reasons. The 2 most important are that we couldn't score enough to overcome the fact that we played no defense.
I was surprised how mad posters were on the Chat after the game. Most of their comments were directed at specific players. Liv didn't show up. Well, she did, but no one could get her the ball--need the ball to score (or get fouled). Also, it's difficult to rebound when every opponent shot winds up in the net.
UConn has historically had hiccups with defending the perimeter and with small, quick guards that can penetrate. You have to tip your hat to the Razorback guards; they were spectacular.
But Paige and Evina were super, too. It's a fact that the homecoming queen bombed, but, hey, it happens. Buckets didn't look so hot in the Tenn. game--until she entered legend at the end.
I hate to lose. It makes me physically ill. I'm spoiled, and it's all Geno's fault. But we're all uphill from this not really tragic moment. We will survive. We will prosper.

Who on Arkansas is quick? Dungee, for 6'2" yes. Daniels yes.

 

[oldude]

Who on Arkansas is quick? Dungee, for 6'2" yes. Daniels yes.

Slocum is not quick but she does use her body well when she drives to the basket. While she didn’t play particularly well yesterday, she did get a key driving layup down the stretch by pinning her defender on her hip and turning the corner.

 

[Lucelab113]

People say one play doesn't decide the game. But these end of game situational screw ups have been costly in the past. IE. Chong vs Miss St, Hartley vs ND in 2012. These mishaps have occurred in tournament games and been costly. Geno giving 2 options led to confusion by the player. There was only time for one option there. Not the end of the world in a January game but the problem is that it has happened in March before.

 

[npignatjr]

Just rewatched Olivia getting the ball stolen early in game, the defender that doubled were guarding Paige on one play and Evina the other. Olivia passes back out they are wide open. She is a good high post passer, not passing back out when double teamed

 

[BBallF]

Last night I, and many other BY’ers, assumed that Christyn should have called a timeout immediately after securing a rebound with a little over 3 seconds left in the game in order for UConn to advance the ball to half court and draw up a last play to tie the game. Some have also suggested that the bench or Christyn’s teammates could have called the timeout.

At that point in the game, a timeout was certainly warranted and everyone on UConn could have called it immediately, but didn’t. Why not? Listening to Geno’s take after the game, the answer is a little more complicated.

The first question put to Geno in the postgame presser was about that play. At first he said, “It was going to be a timeout.” But he went on to say, “We talked about it in the huddle and if there was enough time it was going to be a breakaway.” If I understand what Geno was getting at it sounds like he may have overcoached the situation.

The initial thought appears to be that if Arkansas took a shot with enough time on the clock, UConn would not call timeout, but would push the ball up the court with a much better opportunity to get an open look from the arc. This makes sense. But the problem was that AR is an experienced, well coached team that was not going to take a shot until the last possible second. In fact it was so close to the shot clock expiration that the referees really couldn’t tell on the replay, and they ended up sticking with the call on the floor, that the AR player had released the shot before the shot clock expired.

That being the case, Plan B was for UConn to call timeout immediately. The problem with this two-tiered plan is that it puts enormous responsibility on the players on the court, specifically Christyn, to play tough defense, box out, secure the rebound and be aware of exactly how much time was left on the clock to be able to determine whether to push the ball up the court or immediately call timeout.

I know UConn has some really intelligent basketball players but that’s a lot to put on a player at the end of an intense game. So I for one don’t hold Christyn responsible. Geno needed to keep it simple. “Get the rebound and call timeout.”

With that said, one play doesn’t determine whether you win or lose the game, and there was no guarantee that if UConn had immediately called a timeout they would have been able to knock down a 3 to tie the game....and they still would have needed to win it in OT.

I agree. It had to be clearer to the players and it wasn't. The players can't make that alternative decision, the bench has to. The players have to watch their man and the ball, not the clock. I also thought we made a mistake allowing them to run the clock down. What if they shoot and they get the rebound? Game over. Trying to get the ball out of Dungee's hands by a double early and fouling another player and trying to thereby extend the game with alternate possessions was not attempted. Of course, if CW makes the FT and the margin is 2 it creates a different scenario because now a 3 can win it and any basket can tie it so the defense does not know where the shot is coming from instead of just guarding the arc. A lot of errors all the way around. This will not be like SC, Baylor or Oregon last year. This kind of a loss makes you pissed and determined, not deflated.

 

[BostonCanuck]

Completely agree. This reminds me a lot of the shot clock management mistake by Saniya Chong in final seconds of the 2017 Final Four. Given that that one occurred immediately following a time out, I concluded at the time that it had to have been a coaching error, because Geno obviously did not sufficiently emphasize that the only priority of that play had to be to hold for the last shot.

This is very similar. Given that coach chose to have them not foul, then he should have said, "They are going to run it down to the end of the shot clock, so call a time out the moment you get possession. That will allow us to advance the ball and give us at least four seconds to make a play". Clear, simple, and unambiguous, as opposed to the decision tree he says he gave them. So yes, mostly a coaching error for sure.

 

[victor64]

I tend to side with your argument more than putting it all on Christyn. But as I pointed out, the officials were at the other end of the court. From the tape it appears that the timeout was in fact called from the bench. It may simply come down to a couple of seconds for one official to acknowledge Geno’s request for a timeout and then blow the whistle. **it happens.....

I know you want to move on but i have one final thought. The three officials are stationed on either side and underneath. He could have told the far side official to anticipate a timeout on change of possession. Normally, officials respond to that favorably.

 

[oldude]

I know you want to move on but i have one final thought. The three officials are stationed on either side and underneath. He could have told the far side official to anticipate a timeout on change of possession. Normally, officials respond to that favorably.

Don’t know what discussion took place between Geno and the officials beforehand. In watching the game film again, as Christyn dribbles up the court you can see Geno well outside the coaching box waiving his arm and yelling at the official on his side of the court to signal a timeout.

 

[MD#12Fan]

Last night I, and many other BY’ers, assumed that Christyn should have called a timeout immediately after securing a rebound with a little over 3 seconds left in the game in order for UConn to advance the ball to half court and draw up a last play to tie the game. Some have also suggested that the bench or Christyn’s teammates could have called the timeout.

At that point in the game, a timeout was certainly warranted and everyone on UConn could have called it immediately, but didn’t. Why not? Listening to Geno’s take after the game, the answer is a little more complicated.

The first question put to Geno in the postgame presser was about that play. At first he said, “It was going to be a timeout.” But he went on to say, “We talked about it in the huddle and if there was enough time it was going to be a breakaway.” If I understand what Geno was getting at it sounds like he may have overcoached the situation.

The initial thought appears to be that if Arkansas took a shot with enough time on the clock, UConn would not call timeout, but would push the ball up the court with a much better opportunity to get an open look from the arc. This makes sense. But the problem was that AR is an experienced, well coached team that was not going to take a shot until the last possible second. In fact it was so close to the shot clock expiration that the referees really couldn’t tell on the replay, and they ended up sticking with the call on the floor, that the AR player had released the shot before the shot clock expired.

That being the case, Plan B was for UConn to call timeout immediately. The problem with this two-tiered plan is that it puts enormous responsibility on the players on the court, specifically Christyn, to play tough defense, box out, secure the rebound and be aware of exactly how much time was left on the clock to be able to determine whether to push the ball up the court or immediately call timeout.

I know UConn has some really intelligent basketball players but that’s a lot to put on a player at the end of an intense game. So I for one don’t hold Christyn responsible. Geno needed to keep it simple. “Get the rebound and call timeout.”

With that said, one play doesn’t determine whether you win or lose the game, and there was no guarantee that if UConn had immediately called a timeout they would have been able to knock down a 3 to tie the game....and they still would have needed to win it in OT.

Spot on!
I agree, just make the call. Time out, set up a play from half court. With screening and a baseball pass you can get a good shot in 2 seconds.
I don't think Geno had a good night.
I'm fairly close to his age. I think the COVID world is bogging him down.
Why wouldn't he do something defensively to stem the tide? Was he trying to make a point? I don't like coaching to make a point. As a coach, you have to protect your players in a game like that. Make your point in the film room or in practice.
I do not want to hear (Charley Creme and Mechelle) how good that girl is. Do something to stop her.

 

[robnelli]

Despite all that, UConn got a great look and Evina threw up a really quick shot from the corner that had a legitimate chance of tying up the game before bouncing out.

Technically no. The standard was set decades ago that 0.6 seconds are needed to catch and shoot the ball. We only had 0.3 so the only possible scoring opportunity would be a tip-in on the inbounds pass. I won’t get into any of the myriad fouling possibilities that could occur.

 

[victor64]

Don’t know what discussion took place between Geno and the officials beforehand. In watching the game film again, as Christyn dribbles up the court you can see Geno well outside the coaching box waiving his arm and yelling at the official on his side of the court to signal a timeout.

I know it is blasphemy on this board to second guess Geno (his record speaks for itself) but I am now convinced CW should share clock mismanagement with her coach. CW had no thought of a TO.

 

[MD#12Fan]

Just rewatched Olivia getting the ball stolen early in game, the defender that doubled were guarding Paige on one play and Evina the other. Olivia passes back out they are wide open. She is a good high post passer, not passing back out when double teamed

IMO because she doesn't protect the ball! It turns into a scrum every time she gets it in the low post. She can't see open players. She's frantically trying to retrieve the ball.
She has to be getting that work with GA and Jemelle.

 

[boontonbomber]

An experienced kid who thinks the game and was NOT the on ball defender would have known as the offense held the ball 30 feet from the basket that they were not going to take a quick shot. There was time to take a couple glances at the shot clock and know you'd need a fast timeout. She was just unaware.

Play much?

 

[BobbyJ]

Play much?

I've forgotten more than you'll ever know. Go away Junior.

 

[Monte]

Several responders on this topic seem to infer that the coaches were at fault on many decisions which were made (or not made) on the court.

This suggests to me that Shea Ralph is a highly valued member of the coaching staff.