Two-minute drill

[maddoggy]

There are lots of places where we can say we "lost" a game, from recruiting and conditioning to starting line-ups, shot selection, free throws, coaching, etc. etc. And I get that any of these could have helped us build an insurmountable lead.

But given that the Baylor and ND games all came down to the wire, wouldn't it make more sense to focus on the basketball equivalent of football's two-minute drill? Indulge me for a moment and assume these games will always come down to the wire: isn't the most important question this: why are we losing the two-minute drill at the end of most halves and the end of the games/OTs?

I know some of this has come up in other threads. But if this is the common denominator in all of our losses, wouldn't it make sense to focus on it? (I'm not smart enough to have any answers, mind you. But I hope you can educate me.)

 

[DanDar]

No quality point guard.

Sent from my MAXX HD.

 

[maddoggy]

No quality point guard.

Sent from my MAXX HD.

OK. But how is "no quality point guard" MORE of a problem in the closing minute than it is in the game at large? UConn generally does quite well in the first 39 minutes but seems to collapse in the last minute of close games. What I'm trying to figure out is what goes "wronger" than average in the last minute.

 

[uconnfan68]

OK. But how is "no quality point guard" MORE of a problem in the closing minute than it is in the game at large? UConn generally does quite well in the first 39 minutes but seems to collapse in the last minute of close games. What I'm trying to figure out is what goes "wronger" than average in the last minute.

No quality point guard. ;^)

 

[Tenspro2002]

No go-to player. Which is different than the lack of a quality point guard.

When everyone knows who's getting the ball in crunch time, and everyone believes in that person's abilities, it allows the entire team to relax and just play their game.

You saw in the last 30 seconds what happened in the absence of that kind of player. Kelly dribbled frantically through the trap and threw up a horrible shot, fortunate to get her own rebound. Everyone passed up the ball like it was a ducking hot potato. Nobody had the confidence to take the reins, and nobody had the faith in their teammates to defer.

 

[Icebear]

No go-to player. Which is different than the lack of a quality point guard.

When everyone knows who's getting the ball in crunch time, and everyone believes in that person's abilities, it allows the entire team to relax and just play their game.

You saw in the last 30 seconds what happened in the absence of that kind of player. Kelly dribbled frantically through the trap and threw up a horrible shot, fortunate to get her own rebound. Everyone passed up the ball like it was a ducking hot potato. Nobody had the confidence to take the reins, and nobody had the faith in their teammates to defer.

Funny how passing that ball like a hot potato is considered great ball movement early in the game and the hallmark of great UConn women's basketball.

 

[Jonathan Husky]

OK. But how is "no quality point guard" MORE of a problem in the closing minute than it is in the game at large? UConn generally does quite well in the first 39 minutes but seems to collapse in the last minute of close games. What I'm trying to figure out is what goes "wronger" than average in the last minute.

In football the team with the best quarterback generally wins the game. The same is true in basketball, theteam with the best point guard wins the two minute drill.

Baylor has Odessy Sims and ND has Skylar Diggins two AA point guards. UConn doesn't have a good point guard. Bria is a shooting guard and Kelly is also a shooting guard/ wing. THat is why when it comes down to the last two minutes they will generally beat UConn. They also have way more TO than you would expect from a decent point guardIn fact, Geno should be lauded because UConn has played them so close without a pioint guard

 

[meyers7]

OK. But how is "no quality point guard" MORE of a problem in the closing minute than it is in the game at large?

The more I think about it the more I'm going to have to agree with the "no quality point guard". When it comes down to it, you need someone who can say:
I have the ball and you can't take it away from me.
I know what we want to run, I know who needs to get the ball and in what position.
If that breaks down I have the ability to create my own shot.

Diggins and Sims can say that. We really don't have anyone who can (or at least has demonstrated they can).