_avier (A10 Quarterfinals) Game Thread

[ruechalgrin]

wtf, we had 5 seconds left. Terrible shot selection.

[udx2]

Nothing to say except good night to all.

[TommyGola]

We needed it Kevin's hands. Why, tell me why was he taking the ball out of bounds???? Flyers lose by one.

[kiefaber455]

CJ 2-8 5 points--just didn't show up for the biggest game of his career

[FlyingArrow]

That was a fun season. Maybe we'll win the NIT again.

[udstevied_D87]

not going to say anything for days. peace out udpride

[jack72]

Matt just did not bring his A game today. Outplayed by the ugly guy

[lhsgolf19]

Good Game... Oh well, let's make some noise in the NIT

[ruechalgrin]

Archie, where is the out-of-bounds play .... looked like a BG play

take the immediate shot like there is .6 seconds left instead of 5.4. CJ drive to the bucket.

So disappointed.

X is still the overlord to us. Will we ever get out from under them?!>!>

[SHQCKEY]

**** Tu, **** Lyons, **** Frease, **** X and **** that game. I'm ****ing tired of this bull****.

[backtolife]

Coaching... 3 out of 4 final possessions are horrible. You can blame players for poor shot selection, but that many times. We have no better inbounds plays? Sorry... but Archie deserves a big share of this one.

[TommyGola]

I hope Archie learned a big lesson here tonight...you can't go int a "prevent game."

[FlyerFanatic08]

archie was very questionable in his out of timeout plays. not saying all will work, but to have to jack 3's because shot clock is running down. gotta draw up better looks

[jack72]

I don't think we made a basket in the last 3 minutes... frikin' stall gets you bad shots or no shots

[ruechalgrin]

Originally Posted by kiefaber455 Powers that be in the A10 want X to reach the NCAA tournament more than UD?

Originally Posted by backtolife Coaching... 3 out of 4 final possessions are horrible. You can blame players for poor shot selection, but that many times. We have no better inbounds plays? Sorry... but Archie deserves a big share of this one.

Agree, up 69-63 with 3:02 left and outscored 7-0. Just pathetic coaching and playing. Archie was out coached by Mack (I never thought I would utter that sentence). Give the ball to Dillard and have him drive. I am speechless how we were outscored 7-0. We didn't get any good shots in the last 3 minutes except the missed bunny by Kavs with 5 seconds left.

I hate to say it, but the phantom 2 points by X came back to hurt us -- 1 point on phantom T and 1 point on the phantom lane violation ...

[Chris R]

I thought the second half at Xavier was the worst defensive half of the season, which is why I thought we gift-wrapped that game away. It was nothing but a giant lay-up line.

Turns out it was just a precursor to the second half of tonight's game. Xavier combined for about 25 layups in two games against us.

If you cant stop a team from getting lay-ups on you because your dribble penetration defense is so atrocious, there's nobody to point the finger at but oneself.

Inexcusable result tonight. Absolutely inexcusable. Go spend the next 3hrs trying to rationalize it away.

We keep Xavier to just 15 layups tonight instead of 17, we win.

The last few offensive possessions were abysmal, but this game was lost by our backcourt on defense. Until we figure out how to keep a three-toed sloth out of the paint, there's little confidence to be had in stringing together any type of winning streak that has real teeth to it.

Two points Id like back are the tech on Devin which led to a Tu FT, and the Gavs lane violation which led to Frease hitting the replacement FT.

Details. We are not master of details.

We'll just have to see how things shake out in the NIT (again).

[TommyGola]

Originally Posted by lhsgolf19 Good Game... Oh well, let's make some noise in the NIT

No...NIT is a failure in my opinion. Archie and the team had a chance to do something big tonight and they didn't get it done. We lost our edge when we started running the clock down. We needed to keep the accelerator down. Archie, learn from this. You are a great young coach, but you can't run out the clock with a Tu Holloway and Lyons on the opponent's team.

[FlyerFanatic08]

i didnt get the 3 attempt from CJ up 1. why weren't we attacking the rim? just mind numbing

[DetroitFlyer]

Bummer. Another classic Dayton woulda, coulda, shouda effort. Too bad as this team had the potential to win this tourney. Instead, we go home and get to play in the NIT. Xavier now has a great shot at dancing yet again. It sure would have been nice if our so called co-MVP showed up to play tonight....

[Falcon7]

Up 6 with 3 to go and we don't score another ****ING POINT!
The old playing not to loose strategy!

[DetroitFlyer]

Originally Posted by Chris R I thought the second half at Xavier was the worst defensive half of the season, which is why I thought we gift-wrapped that game away. It was nothing but a giant lay-up line. Turns out it was just a precursor to the second half of tonight's game. Xavier combined for about 25 layups in two games against us. If you cant stop a team from getting lay-ups on you because your dribble penetration defense is so atrocious, there's nobody to point the finger at but oneself. Inexcusable result tonight. Absolutely inexcusable. Go spend the next 3hrs trying to rationalize it away. We keep Xavier to just 15 layups tonight instead of 17, we win. The last few offensive possessions were abysmal, but this game was lost by our frontcourt on defense. Until we figure out how to keep a three-toed sloth out of the paint, there's little confidence to be had in stringing together any type of winning streak that has real teeth to it. Two points Id like back are the tech on Devin which led to a Tu FT, and the Gavs lane violation which led to Frease hitting the replacement FT. Details. We are not master of details. We'll just have to see how things shake out in the NIT (again).

it felt like Xavier scored with ease every time down the court in the second half. Our best defense seemed to be Xavier unforced errors.

[Smitty10]

This running clock when you have a minimal lead is the stupidest thing a coach can do. If you have a 2 point lead, you're lead is really only that you have the possession, to cut you chances down to 10 seconds to find a good shot is simple math, STUPID. You didn't get the lead by cutting your offensive possessions to 10 seconds, don't try to protect it that way. It infuriates me when so many coaches don't have the statistical and logical brains to figure this out.

[TommyGola]

Originally Posted by Chris R I thought the second half at Xavier was the worst defensive half of the season, which is why I thought we gift-wrapped that game away. It was nothing but a giant lay-up line. Turns out it was just a precursor to the second half of tonight's game. Xavier combined for about 25 layups in two games against us. If you cant stop a team from getting lay-ups on you because your dribble penetration defense is so atrocious, there's nobody to point the finger at but oneself. Inexcusable result tonight. Absolutely inexcusable. Go spend the next 3hrs trying to rationalize it away. We keep Xavier to just 15 layups tonight instead of 17, we win. The last few offensive possessions were abysmal, but this game was lost by our frontcourt on defense. Until we figure out how to keep a three-toed sloth out of the paint, there's little confidence to be had in stringing together any type of winning streak that has real teeth to it. Two points Id like back are the tech on Devin which led to a Tu FT, and the Gavs lane violation which led to Frease hitting the replacement FT. Details. We are not master of details. We'll just have to see how things shake out in the NIT (again).

Those two plays were huge mental mistakes. I don't buy the notion that Devon was trying to avoid a defender. In his excitement he chose to do a pull-up! It was a terrible mistake! Gav needs to stay out of the lane. These two plays were the kind of mistakes that you can't make against X.

[TommyGola]

Originally Posted by FlyerFanatic08 i didnt get the 3 attempt from CJ up 1. why weren't we attacking the rim? just mind numbing

Because the guy who could penetrate was taking the ball out of bounds. This was a classic mistake!

[Falcon7]

Originally Posted by TommyGola Because the guy who could penetrate was taking the ball out of bounds. This was a classic mistake!

Not a mistake! Stupid call by Miller!

[FlyerFanatic08]

Originally Posted by TommyGola Because the guy who could penetrate was taking the ball out of bounds. This was a classic mistake!

true, i said in game thread KD should have had the ball..but i don't mind CJ attacking or even PW attacking. anyone. its ridiculous to shoot a 3 there

[Chris R]

Our best second half defense was praying XU tripped over their own shoelaces. Aside from that, there was no defense.

Just OLE'!

[TommyGola]

Originally Posted by FlyingArrow That was a fun season. Maybe we'll win the NIT again.

Nothing personal, Flying Arrow, but the NIT is not acceptable. It is indicative of a failure. We need to regroup, get some horses down low, and learn how to keep the penetrating guards from blistering you.

[longtimefan67]

Originally Posted by Chris R I thought the second half at Xavier was the worst defensive half of the season, which is why I thought we gift-wrapped that game away. It was nothing but a giant lay-up line. Turns out it was just a precursor to the second half of tonight's game. Xavier combined for about 25 layups in two games against us. If you cant stop a team from getting lay-ups on you because your dribble penetration defense is so atrocious, there's nobody to point the finger at but oneself. Inexcusable result tonight. Absolutely inexcusable. Go spend the next 3hrs trying to rationalize it away. We keep Xavier to just 15 layups tonight instead of 17, we win. The last few offensive possessions were abysmal, but this game was lost by our frontcourt on defense. Until we figure out how to keep a three-toed sloth out of the paint, there's little confidence to be had in stringing together any type of winning streak that has real teeth to it. Two points Id like back are the tech on Devin which led to a Tu FT, and the Gavs lane violation which led to Frease hitting the replacement FT. Details. We are not master of details. We'll just have to see how things shake out in the NIT (again).

The ref that T'd up DMO should really be reprimanded for that call. I swear if UD doesn't complain I will. Absolutely pathetic call. But what was worse was hearing Steve Wolf and his A$$-Clown mate defend the call saying it was excessive! EXCESSIVE? (DMO was trying to not be undercut and save his neck for those who didn't see the play). In the end though, a prevent defense, or in this case, no offense the last 3 minutes of the game was the story. UD runs it's normal offense and it would have been a parade to the foul line...unreal...

[udstevied_D87]

what were our expectations at the beginning of the season...i think we exceeded them but still sucks

[DetroitFlyer]

Well, this team actually has the ability to win the NIT this year. At the moment it is kind of hard to get excited about an NIT bid because we just choked away a game we should have won easily. It will be interesting to see if the team plays with heart and passion in the NIT or if they hang it up like last year's team....

[udx2]

Originally Posted by udstevied_D87 what were our expectations at the beginning of the season...i think we exceeded them but still sucks

Probably the best summary of the season and this game.

I have seen this too many times and too often with x. Hope it just makes next year sweeter.

[longtimefan67]

Originally Posted by DetroitFlyer Well, this team actually has the ability to win the NIT this year. At the moment it is kind of hard to get excited about an NIT bid because we just choked away a game we should have won easily. It will be interesting to see if the team plays with heart and passion in the NIT or if they hang it up like last year's team....

And having won the NIT in 2010 after a very disappointing season that year...does anyone really care about winning it again? I don't.

[TommyGola]

Originally Posted by DetroitFlyer Well, this team actually has the ability to win the NIT this year. At the moment it is kind of hard to get excited about an NIT bid because we just choked away a game we should have won easily. It will be interesting to see if the team plays with heart and passion in the NIT or if they hang it up like last year's team....

Yawn!!!!!!!!!

[Falcon7]

4:01 Matt Kavanaugh made Dunk. Assisted by Kevin Dillard.
^ That was our last FG of the night!

[redbengal]

I give Archie credit for taking most of the blame for the final 3 minutes. That's what he just did on his radio show. He said he didn't help his kids enough. He also went on to say that the guys passed up good looks on those possessions which led to having to take bad shots at the end of the clock. I just wish he would have adjusted after even the 2nd time it happened. When he took that timeout with about 11 sec left in the shot clock on one of those possessions he looked mad. I figured, "At least they'll get a good look out of the timeout." Didn't happen.

[Chris R]

I appreciate Archie falling on the sword, but really, come on. We did more than enough offensively to win this game about three times over. The crutch was once again the Washington Generals lay-up line in the second half that surrendered points nearly every single trip down the court for Xavier.

This game was flushed away long before the last five minutes of the second half came and went. So many defensive possessions just flushed down the toilet when we had chances to make Xavier pay for running an anemic one-dimensional offense of nothing but curls to the basket. And when XU didnt make a lay-up, we sent them to the FT line like a marching band marches toward the end zone. If Xavier makes FTs, this one aint close.

Archie cant guard XU players from the bench. At some point the team has to stick a cork in the opposing team and get some defensive stops. We never did.

What happened in the last 3 minutes was just a byproduct of all the missed opportunities before it to put the game away when we had our chances.

We never stopped them the entire second half. All it took was a short cold spell on offense and our goose was cooked. Thats exactly what happened.

[Viperstick]

Originally Posted by longtimefan67 The ref that T'd up DMO should really be reprimanded for that call. I swear if UD doesn't complain I will. Absolutely pathetic call. But what was worse was hearing Steve Wolf and his A$$-Clown mate defend the call saying it was excessive! EXCESSIVE? (DMO was trying to not be undercut and save his neck for those who didn't see the play). In the end though, a prevent defense, or in this case, no offense the last 3 minutes of the game was the story. UD runs it's normal offense and it would have been a parade to the foul line...unreal...

Both calls were BS, but there is no reason either should be considered causal to our defeat. When you pee your pants when leading by 10 at half, there's something else wrong. Chris has hit the nail on the cranium--X scored at will, while we looked dazed & confused on O most of the second half.

[FlyingArrow]

Originally Posted by longtimefan67 And having won the NIT in 2010 after a very disappointing season that year...does anyone really care about winning it again? I don't.

I do. I'll root for the Flyers whenever they're playing. Not to re-hash an old argument, but I still say it's harder (and therefore more impressive) to win the NIT than it is to win a single game in the NCAA tournament. That's multiple straight wins over top-100 competition instead of a single win against top-50 competition. I know there's no spotlight, but the 2010 NIT run was redemption. This year, the team has already overachieved. But they overachieved enough to show what they're capable of... and then they underachieved.

Hoping for Xavier to wind up in the NIT with us. Beating them there would be a nice ending to the season.

[UD Sam]

Originally Posted by DetroitFlyer Well, this team actually has the ability to win the NIT this year. At the moment it is kind of hard to get excited about an NIT bid because we just choked away a game we should have won easily. It will be interesting to see if the team plays with heart and passion in the NIT or if they hang it up like last year's team....

Detroit, the only player that hung it up last year in the NIT game against College of Charleston was JS with 3-12 FG, 0-2 3 Pt., 0-2 FT and 2 assists. Everyone else played a good game, esp. CW with 9-18 FG and 13 rebounds. But, you can't blame JS, I'm sure he had already planned to transfer and wanted other teams to be aware of his offensive skills. Sorry...I couldn't help but post this.

[T-Bone 84]

About, "The 2 Calls", IMHO:
-The "T" was a bad call. Borderline horrible. The replay was shown several times over, and it was clear that Walker was running under D-MO's legs after the ball went through the hoop. If Devin had let go of the rim, he would have landed (a) on Walker, or (b) on his head. And his momentum prior to the shot left him in need of a second to steady himself before releasing (the traditionally allowed "hang"). That was 10% showboat, 90% safety, and the 90% should have outweighed the 10%. And Tisdale & Bedell on the WHIO post-game show agreed that the call was a pile of crap.
-The lane violation on AG looked like a decent call, unless Lurch committed a violation with a "hold" right before his release. When it happened, I said, "Yep. Alex boxed-out too soon." I'd need to see a replay, but my gut feel is that this call was correct.

We lost the game by playing "Ole!" defense for much of the 2nd half, and by going into the prevent offense and getting hog slop for shots in the last 3 minutes. And Archie took the blame in the post-game with Larry & Bucky. That said, a bad call in the 1st half can cost you points as easily as a bad call in the last minute, Tu made 1 FT as a result of the T on Devin, and we lost by 1 point. So, that "bovine feces" call did have a direct impact on the game's outcome. And that's twice in 3 years that Tu was involved in a game-changing situation involving a T that was called on the good guys (though, this time, he was simply a beneficiary and not an instigator). Man, am I glad he'll be gone!

[Swampy Meadows]

Clearly, UD lost this game because their free throw defense which was outstanding in the first half abandoned them in the second stanza.

[jumpin' joe]

Originally Posted by T-Bone 84 -The lane violation on AG looked like a decent call, unless Lurch committed a violation with a "hold" right before his release. When it happened, I said, "Yep. Alex boxed-out too soon." I'd need to see a replay, but my gut feel is that this call was correct.

I said to my son at the time when Lurch made that next free throw that we'll probably lose this game by a point. Now we had a lot bigger issues than that free throw which cost us the game, but I really wonder what would have happened had that not been called. Before that "bonus" free throw, Lurch was 1-6 from the line and looked absolutely horrible. He misses that next one to go 1-7, but nooo there's a violation. He then proceeds to make 8 in a row. I believe there is no way he does that without getting a "mulligan" to get him back on track. Lurch finishes the night 9-14 which is well above his season average.