Postgame Thoughts... Virginia (ACC T)

[Orangezoo]

I still think that one inbound was five seconds. I don't care if I sound bitter.

It was.

 

[oTTo113445]

Virginia is like the worst team to be playing 3 guards against. They don't turn the ball over. Add Guerrier to PF that is why we shot less than 30% both halfs.

 

[Cowtown]

Did he say we are out again??

Dunno, not watching him, just responding to tptcuse.

 

[tee1222]

Proud of these guys. Showed a lot of determination throughout the year. They are a tournament team and can have a nice run, as they have proven already.

 

[br801]

Deserved a better fate. Thought we outplayed them most of the game. Q picked a bad day to miss 4 free throws. The drought the last 3 minutes of the 1st half really cost us. We should have been up 7+ at the half, not 3. But we played very well today. Pretty good chance to get a bid but you never know what the committee will do. Or what upsets happen in these conference tourneys. That loss to Pitt when we blew an 18 point lead just hurts us. If that was a win, we would be in no doubt.

It was more than a three minute drought, more like only around 22 points from the end of the first half to about the four minute mark of the second half. Those missed free throws were big, but there were also four or five missed bunnies in there as well. Tremendous effort to overcome all that and still almost win it.

 

[sugrad68]

A very encouraging performance by the team was what I saw. A huge improvement over what we saw the last time they played Virginia. Better offensively and better defensively. They definitely demonstrated that they belong in the NCAAT.

No, it wasn't error-free. You can point to any number of errors by our guys and even bad calls that denied us the win, but the fact that they needed a buzzer beater to take the win tells me that if/when we meet them again in the Tournament, we will almost certainly wipe those smiles off of their faces...

Very well said. The top team in the conference needed a buzzer-beater to win. I agree with others in that the last 4 minutes of the first half hurt us and allowed VA to close the gap. Poor performances by many on the team with only Buddy playing real well. Others had their moments but the last 4 SU games have shown quite a turn-around. Solid play against good teams.

 

[Scott11]

I'm numb but proud. Does that make sense? Those kids left everything out on the floor. Selfless team play resulting in only 5 turnovers. A few thoughts.
-Buddy was insane. Dropped 31 on one of the best defensive programs in the country. Onions for days. And let's not forget about the clutch free throws. What a gem of a performance. Kid never looked tired. What a work ethic he has to make himself into the kind of player who can submit a performance like that.
-All game long I wanted Kadary in for JG3. Just a better matchup on both ends. But JB made it sound like the knee is still an issue so you have to take him at his word. On the other hand he played the last ten minutes or so . . . but he doesn't look like himself and hasn't finished as well as he has. But JG cannot score on Clark and frankly he got beat off the dribble a couple of times and got lucky when they didn't score. As good as JG was yesterday, he was not today.
-Quincy battled his arse off. So much heart. Played 39 minutes, gave us a double double and as usual came on in the second half. Wish he had made a few more free throws but that happens. On the game winner he didn't get his hand up but I don't think it would have mattered.
-I'll never understand why AG can be so good one minute and so maddening/selfish the next. Truly perplexing player and has been all year. I can never understand by he doesn't go to the hole more when he is so athletic and the defender is overplaying his shot.
-Some might have wanted more Jesse but Huff was not the issue in the second half.
-Two blatant referring screw ups are huge in a game decided by a buzzer beater. The Huff over the back/goaltend was a disgrace as was the non five second call which was clear (go on twitter and see the fan timing the play on his phone if you haven't already seen it).
-This team has come so far from a few weeks ago when many were questioning their heart and declaring this one of our worst teams. In a way this game reminds me of the Missouri OT heartbreaker when Red went off with Buddy playing the part of Red. I'm proud of this team and hope they get the tourney spot they deserve.

 

[rrlbees]

Dunno, not watching him, just responding to tptcuse.

he said he was keeping us where we are, last team in.

 

[tbonezone]

he said he was keeping us where we are, last team in.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Yeah what people also are overlooking a bit is a win, and then maybe another tmrw, would remove us from the play in games. Sure I’m happy to be in regardless, but if you can avoid a play in game too? That matters.

This was a gut wrenching loss.

Built a nice early lead. Fought back when Virginia took control to tie it. Incredible resolve. Lose on a buzzer beater. It’s tough stuff for any team, especially one that is so close to the cut line. This was rough.

 

[oTTo113445]

Jessie got 2 good looks while he was in, and the three in the corner was on Dolezaj not rotating (He hasn't bought into rotating outwards when Jessie is in yet.
Jessies two looks in the first half were better than anything we had in the second half not named buddy. Griffin was a guard today. And, Jessie makes free throws.
Still, I 100% can understand why we went with Dolez given the bubble status. This game came down to the buzzer.
Some days it feels like Griffin or Girard can play 40 minutes one game and only 15 the next. For Girard its D, for Griffin it's playing out of position on offense (maybe some quick passing and double screens from our guards would help). Just no Dolezaj or Guerrier in the screens when Griffin is off. One rebounds the other handles and assists.

 

[shandeezy7]

Yeah what people also are overlooking a bit is a win, and then maybe another tmrw, would remove us from the play in games. Sure I’m happy to be in regardless, but if you can avoid a play in game too? That matters.

This was a gut wrenching loss.

Built a nice early lead. Fought back when Virginia took control to tie it. Incredible resolve. Lose on a buzzer beater. It’s tough stuff for any team, especially one that is so close to the cut line. This was rough.

I think a win today would have guaranteed us being in and out of the play-in game. The loss, even though a close one, puts us either in the play-in game or out of the tourney completely.

 

[Orangezoo]

I think a win today would have guaranteed us being in and out of the play-in game. The loss, even though a close one, puts us either in the play-in game or out of the tourney completely.

Doubt it puts us out.

 

[Cheriehoop]

I figured it was a tweener. The top of the zone failed, which forced us to collapse and expose the wing-ish area.

Boeheim would have had to leave Hauser to cover Beekman. If you were going to shade coverage percentage wise away from someone, sadly it would be Beekman.

 

[jdubs30]

Boeheim would have had to leave Hauser to cover Beekman. If you were going to shade coverage percentage wise away from someone, sadly it would be Beekman.

Exactly. If Buddy left Hauser to cover Beekman and Hauser hit the game winner it’d be much worse

 

[Cusefan0307]

Not great Alan, not great.

 

[oTTo113445]

If they went on a run 1:30 earlier chances are we press and they turn it over another 2-3 times too.

 

[Trueblue25]

We’re all 55-60% water in the end

 

[capeorange]

Buddy was too. The replay showed him standing there watching the drive in

I wish JB didn't call off the press but apparently he couldn't hear me screaming at my tv.

 

[capeorange]

If Quincy had gone out on the shooter, we lose because Clark would have tossed it to Huff for the dunk. He was in a tough position there. Had to bail on someone. I thought Marek came up too high.

We should have kept the press on.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[tbonezone]

I wish JB didn't call off the press but apparently he couldn't hear me screaming at my tv.

"ALEXIS ...tell Jim Boeheim to keep the press on "

 

[Trueblue25]

Its not over yet Q

This year aside.. We have the makings of a top 10 team coming back next year if those who needn’t leave choose to stay

 

[BillSU]

Exactly. If Buddy left Hauser to cover Beekman and Hauser hit the game winner it’d be much worse

If you watch the replay of Beekman's shot it was Guerrier who was ball watching instead of knowing Beekman was behind him wide open. I doubt Quincy could have closed the space between he and Beekman - too far away to challange to make Beekman flinch. Great game, proud of this team. They were very, very good today deserving a berth in the NCAA tournament.

 

[rrlbees]

he was crying when he came off the court at the end.