Feel for Brey

[Madbiker]

ND had to play a perfect game to win...and they nearly did. A few mistakes in the last 3 minutes cost them just enough to lose. Three missed free throws all by 75%+ shooters. Wasting his last TO before the last defensive stand where Harrison made 2 FTs. Should have saved that TO to set up a play at the end. Not going 2 for 1 in the last minute. Changing from ball movement to Grant going iso on their last 3 possessions. Ugh, so close.

 

[Bayside44]

It blows my mind when a guy with 431 wins in the BE and ACC (and the Hens) for a win % over 65% is called a crappy coach. The dude just ran through the ACC tournament like a hot knife through butter.

They had a shot, and UK got a couple of real nickle dimers at the end. Hit a couple of foul shots and not be on the wrong side of a couple of anticipatory whistles...

 

[JrodCuse]

He really made a coaching mistake at the end. Maybe his only mistake but it was a brutal one. He called TO right before Kentucky inbounded the ball and it was their last one. In a 66-66 tie game he should have just had faith in his team and pocketed the TO. They would have been able to draw up a play at the end to at worst go for the tie.

 

[raf4488]

He out-coached Cal, period. His team played better and deserved to win. The fact that he has yet to make a final 4 and you mix in that he just lost his mom which is tough anytime but in the middle of the tourney? He hasn't had time to mourn. I wanted it for him very badly because they will be down next year and I think he is one of the classiest coaches out there. Damn Kentucky.

Brey is a very good coach and ND was outstanding this year, but I don't think you can say he out-coached Cal or that ND deserved it more. ND lost because they pretty much stopped running offense for the last 1:30. UK played well too, just look at how great Towns was in the second half (7-7 FG I think) and how good WCS was on defense.

 

[sabach]

Tough draw for ND...the way they were playing I think they'd be in the Final Four if they played anyone else but UK.

It thought that as soon as I saw the bracket.

 

[81South]

How did he not? Huge underdogs, almost pulled the upset. His game plan was perfect, attack the rim and challenge their bigs.

The fact that they never doubled the post was very questionable to me...you have to force them to kick it out and make perimeter shots.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

How did he not? Huge underdogs, almost pulled the upset. His game plan was perfect, attack the rim and challenge their bigs.

Yet it was Kentucky that executed flawlessly down the stretch.

Kentucky could have panicked.

Very few close games this season.

Yet they didn't and they out executed ND down the stretch.

Sign of a well-coached team.

Just because ND kept it close and almost pulled the upset doesn't mean the Brey out coached Calipari.

 

[Cuse Action]

UK is a great team, but not a dominate team.

What is a "dominate team"?

 

[LennX6]

No question about it, in my mind. Their 1997 team that lost in the finals to Arizona was loaded too.

Their Jamal Mashburn era teams were really good too. They came up just short to Duke '92 on a buzzer beater, and then the Fab Five the next season - two incredible teams. They weren't as deep as this current group, but Mashburn was a much better player than anyone on their current team is right now. Again, different eras. Nowadays you would get Mashburn for a year and he would be gone, and you'd never get to see his excellent soph/Junior seasons.

The Mike Phillips - Rick Robey - Goose Givens - Kevin Grevey- Macy era was pretty good.

 

[andyw715]

What is a "dominate team"?

2012 Kentucky would dominate 2015 Kentucky

 

[RandygoCuse]

Um, best "start" in ncaa history and undefeated into the final four but they are not dominate?

They're definitely a dominant team. Perhaps the poster meant they are not a dominant offensive team? I don't think any of the players are big-time scorers yet, and I fully recognize that they have to share the ball among quite a few players.