Was 5 Guards at the End Really a Mistake? | The Boneyard

Was 5 Guards at the End Really a Mistake?

Status
Not open for further replies.

JoePgh

Cranky pants and wise acre
Joined
Aug 30, 2011
Messages
3,625
Reaction Score
21,052
If Geno had left Kiah in, a very plausible outcome is that Mallory would have gotten free for a game-winning 3, and would have drained it just like she did a few minutes later. Preventing a 3 is a higher percentage play. Hindsight is 20-20, but can be misleading.
 
Joined
Oct 18, 2011
Messages
985
Reaction Score
2,058
I'm sure that's what he was thinking. I would have had 4 guards and a post in, but that doesn't really matter either. It was Novosel, a shooting guard, who snuck in from the baseline to get the rebound, something she was doing the entire game regardless of how many bigs had in. If Kaleena had boxed out, we would have gotten the rebound.
 

bruinbball

@biglurp
Joined
Aug 25, 2011
Messages
1,408
Reaction Score
1,320
The thing that made the Novosel rebound so easy was that Diggins, Doty and McBride all lay on the floor beside the basket. Coming from the weak side was the only way to get to the ball without running someone over. A missed block out was huge but there is still no guarantee Stokes would have gotten the rebound either.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
3,909
Reaction Score
3,804
Five guards was not a mistake. It was the perfect strategy. Not having Kiah Stokes in the game did not cost UConn the game in regulation. There was no blockout on the weak side. It often happens in end of game situations where everyone's eyes are on the ball and one's first reaction is to stop the ball. Novosel, to her credit, made a very nice scoop to the other side of the basket. Very often that shot is short armed or is not given enough spin.
We can all assume, given how well prepared UConn is for these situations that the 5 guard luneup had been preacticed a number of times prior to last night. Coach Auriemma was valiant falling on to the sword, but the strategy could not be faulted.
 
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
815
Reaction Score
1,374
I'm pretty sure Geno had the St. John's game on his mind where a switch didn't get communicated properly with Kiah on the floor and UConn lost the game on a 3.

Your job as a coach is to second guess yourself, but what Geno did was perfectly reasonable strategy. He wanted to make sure UConn wasn't going to lose the game in the final seconds of regulation.
 

huskeynut

Leader of the Band
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
6,884
Reaction Score
27,171
And has been said many times - hindsight is 20/20.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Online statistics

Members online
595
Guests online
3,509
Total visitors
4,104

Forum statistics

Threads
155,779
Messages
4,031,384
Members
9,864
Latest member
Sad Tiger


Top Bottom