He hits the step back 3 over Hall, ok, whatever. We're still down a lot, no pressure. He steals it and throws it out of bounds off Brogdon, ok, whatever. That's just an instinct play. Just under six minutes left, he curls off a left wing screen, takes a pass from G, drives and scores for the lead. Again, that's just kind of playing.
But how many times do teams with young players come from behind, realize it's now theirs to blow with plenty of time to blow it, and choke? It happens all the time in sports.
59-58 Cuse, Malachi catches a pass off a screen on the right wing. He squares up, 4:41 left, and looks at Brogdon. The ACC DPOTY, the experienced senior. The guy he's shied away from a few times tonight. He looks him over, puts it on the floor, two dribbles, shoots over him, and freaking buries it. Pure all the way. The crowd erupts. We've gone form comeback mode to pulling away mode, and now everyone knows it. Message sent: we're not going to crumble now that we've got the lead late with the Final Four on the line, UVA is going to have to step up and rip it back away if they're going to beat us.
62-58 Cuse, 3:38 left, Malachi has it out top against Brogdon. He sizes him up and backs out. He's not deciding whether to attack, he's deciding how to attack. You can just tell from his body language, he's made up his mind. He wants to create some space to use his speed. There is zero fear in Malachi, and he drives, misses, and fights like hell to get the rebound and put it back up and in. Harlan: "Richardson has gone mad!"
Maybe the narrative is different if he doesn't get the rebound and putback, but I think his mindset has changed and he's got 36 games under his belt. I think those two possessions to extend the lead were the moment Malachi Richardson realized he's ready to be The Man on this team when the game is on the line.
That's a big freaking deal, because let me ask you this. Who on that experienced Virginia team wanted to be the man, step up and take the big shot when we put them on the ropes? Even Perrantes looked scared a couple times.
I'd LOVE to hear what Boeheim said to him in the huddle right before he erupted. Bottle that speech up, Jim.
But how many times do teams with young players come from behind, realize it's now theirs to blow with plenty of time to blow it, and choke? It happens all the time in sports.
59-58 Cuse, Malachi catches a pass off a screen on the right wing. He squares up, 4:41 left, and looks at Brogdon. The ACC DPOTY, the experienced senior. The guy he's shied away from a few times tonight. He looks him over, puts it on the floor, two dribbles, shoots over him, and freaking buries it. Pure all the way. The crowd erupts. We've gone form comeback mode to pulling away mode, and now everyone knows it. Message sent: we're not going to crumble now that we've got the lead late with the Final Four on the line, UVA is going to have to step up and rip it back away if they're going to beat us.
62-58 Cuse, 3:38 left, Malachi has it out top against Brogdon. He sizes him up and backs out. He's not deciding whether to attack, he's deciding how to attack. You can just tell from his body language, he's made up his mind. He wants to create some space to use his speed. There is zero fear in Malachi, and he drives, misses, and fights like hell to get the rebound and put it back up and in. Harlan: "Richardson has gone mad!"
Maybe the narrative is different if he doesn't get the rebound and putback, but I think his mindset has changed and he's got 36 games under his belt. I think those two possessions to extend the lead were the moment Malachi Richardson realized he's ready to be The Man on this team when the game is on the line.
That's a big freaking deal, because let me ask you this. Who on that experienced Virginia team wanted to be the man, step up and take the big shot when we put them on the ropes? Even Perrantes looked scared a couple times.
I'd LOVE to hear what Boeheim said to him in the huddle right before he erupted. Bottle that speech up, Jim.
