And now, before I blow a 50-amp fuse....
Perhaps it's a good thing I didn't get to watch the University of Louisville's 62-61 loss to Morehead State University in the first round of the NCAA tournament. (I know the folks in Indianapolis insist it's the second round, but I'm sorry -- the First Four isn't the first round when it involves less than one-eighth of the field.) I'd have been on the verge of throwing things watching U of L cough up an eight-point second half lead after coming back from 13 points down early on.
Let's get this out of the way first: Mike Marra was fouled on his last shot, but I'm neither surprised nor outraged it wasn't called. Nine times out of 10 it won't be. Morehead's Kenneth Faried would have had to knock Marra on his butt to get whistled in that situation. I accept that -- it doesn't upset me.
What does upset me? Let me start the list.
Four missed layups in the opening minutes, and 7-for-16 foul shooting. Make two of those layups and two more free throws, and no one cares about Devonte Harper's last three-pointer. Hitting only nine of 16 from the line is 56 percent -- still putrid, but it would have been enough to win the game.
The defense on Morehead's last possession. Time and score, guys -- time and score. In the waning seconds of the game with a two-point lead, as a perimeter defender you should be thinking only one thing: prevent the three! If you're beaten inside the arc, it isn't fatal; your help is behind you, and barring a foul in the act, a two-pointer only ties the game. The only thing that kills you is a three, so do not give a guy an unmolested look at one.
The seeming lack of focus at the beginning. Nothing else explains spotting Morehead a 15-2 lead, and though the Cards clawed back before halftime to stick their noses in front, U of L gave up a buzzer-beating three to let the Eagles gain a halftime tie.
As I heard former U of L coach Denny Crum say many times, you get what you earn -- and Thursday night the Cards earned a loss. The guy you have to feel the worst for is Preston Knowles; after all he has been to this team, he did not deserve for his college career to end with him slumped on the bench in excruciating pain, unable to hit a key shot or provide a crucial defensive stop.
These Cards may have exceeded preseason expectations, but make no mistake: this loss hurts.
Perhaps it's a good thing I didn't get to watch the University of Louisville's 62-61 loss to Morehead State University in the first round of the NCAA tournament. (I know the folks in Indianapolis insist it's the second round, but I'm sorry -- the First Four isn't the first round when it involves less than one-eighth of the field.) I'd have been on the verge of throwing things watching U of L cough up an eight-point second half lead after coming back from 13 points down early on.
Let's get this out of the way first: Mike Marra was fouled on his last shot, but I'm neither surprised nor outraged it wasn't called. Nine times out of 10 it won't be. Morehead's Kenneth Faried would have had to knock Marra on his butt to get whistled in that situation. I accept that -- it doesn't upset me.
What does upset me? Let me start the list.
Four missed layups in the opening minutes, and 7-for-16 foul shooting. Make two of those layups and two more free throws, and no one cares about Devonte Harper's last three-pointer. Hitting only nine of 16 from the line is 56 percent -- still putrid, but it would have been enough to win the game.
The defense on Morehead's last possession. Time and score, guys -- time and score. In the waning seconds of the game with a two-point lead, as a perimeter defender you should be thinking only one thing: prevent the three! If you're beaten inside the arc, it isn't fatal; your help is behind you, and barring a foul in the act, a two-pointer only ties the game. The only thing that kills you is a three, so do not give a guy an unmolested look at one.
The seeming lack of focus at the beginning. Nothing else explains spotting Morehead a 15-2 lead, and though the Cards clawed back before halftime to stick their noses in front, U of L gave up a buzzer-beating three to let the Eagles gain a halftime tie.
As I heard former U of L coach Denny Crum say many times, you get what you earn -- and Thursday night the Cards earned a loss. The guy you have to feel the worst for is Preston Knowles; after all he has been to this team, he did not deserve for his college career to end with him slumped on the bench in excruciating pain, unable to hit a key shot or provide a crucial defensive stop.
These Cards may have exceeded preseason expectations, but make no mistake: this loss hurts.
* * * * * * * * *
A little historical perspective: the last time Morehead State won a first-round NCAA tournament game, it was 1984. None of the Eagles' current players had been born yet.
A little historical perspective: the last time Morehead State won a first-round NCAA tournament game, it was 1984. None of the Eagles' current players had been born yet.
The last time MSU beat U of L, in 1957, I'd venture to guess, most of the current team's parents had yet to be born. I don't remember it -- I didn't know what a basketball was yet.
posted by Alan at 8:01 PM
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