You know sometimes you  sit and watch a game and wonder…. “What was that coach thinking???”

That happened yesterday as I watched the end of the GTown-UConn game. What in hell was JT3 thinking having Hibbert take a three with the game on the line? OR What was Blaney thinking having Dyson, who had been out of control the whole game, handle the ball with the game on the line?

We sat and discussed whether Hibbert was supposed to take that 3. Yes, he was……. No, he wasn’t.

Sometimes a coach does everything he can and his team just doesn’t show up, ala ND vs. Marquette yesterday or Marquette vs. WVU last week. Sometimes a coach just sits and watches in awe as his team plays flawless ball, like Crean yesterday. And sometimes he makes a decision for no apparent reason and it turns to gold, like Thompson.

Well after reading every news article about the GTown victory I realized that sometimes a coach is just brilliant and no one knows it. No, Hibbert wasn’t supposed to take the shot. But why he ended up taking it is the interesting part. JT3 wanted Wallace to take the jumper with 4 seconds left. But how to get him the ball? Hibbert said he looked for the shooter but UConn had a man on him. No one in the world would have have guessed that UConn would be in a 2-3 zone. That would be stupid, right? YES IT WAS! Even Blaney admitted he put the Huskies in the zone for one possession too many yesterday. UConn has had trouble defending the long jump shot all season. The reason????? 2-3 zone. So even JT3 knew that UConn would come out in man for the crucial possession. WRONG! So getting back to why Hibbert got the ball a the 3 point line. Thompson knew that UConn would be tight on his players. But he also knew that Thabeet would stay down low to rebound. So who would be the only player for the Hoyas not pressured? Right, Hibbert. And JT3 knew that Hibbert is an excellent passer. So who better to run the last offensive set through? You see, this is what makes a good coach into a great coach. No, Hibbert wasn’t supposed to take the last shot from 3. Hibbert said it, Wallace said it. But by going to Hibbert up top GTown avoided the chance for a turnover on their last possession. BRILLIANT! And to top things off, he bangs the 3! Why???? Because Wallace was covered like a blanket. Good Defense by the Huskies? Yes. REAL BAD defensive choice to paly a zone. ABSOLUTELY!

And why was Dyson the man with the ball on UConn’s last possession? Especially when he was so out of control all game? Don’t you want Price to take that 3 from the top of the key, when that is where he is most effective? Or Dyson in the corner, where he can make it? But no, Dyson gets the inbound from Adrien and loses it out of bounds. Well, Blaney, what’s with that? The play UConn was running was an inbounds pass to Robinson who would turn and hit either Price or Dyson streakiing down the court. Only one problem here. Stanley Robinson never broke for the inbounds pass. He stood near midcourt and Adrien had no option except to inbounds the ball to the wildman, who fumbled it. Robinson, you see, only shows up occasionally. He likes to stand at the 3 point line in the half court offense. He never flashes anywhere. He obviously didn’t want to take part in the last play yesterday. He was busy watching the excitement from midcourt.

So let’s not be too harsh on Blaney (except for his 2-3 zone call), and let’s acknowledge that Thompson IS a great coach!

Categories: Commentary, Coach O