Took a good look at Lute, who was right below where I was sitting, with 4+ minutes left up 15 he took a long drink from his cup and strutted down the sidelines like he was posing for victory. He coached well for 36 minutes and then figured it was time for celebration, no way they could lose it. No way a coach can let his team be that sloppy to turn it over 4 times in the last 3 minutes. Inexcusable. If you miss FT's that can almost be excused. But not a litany of turnovers. If they simply take care of the ball the game is long over.
I think we have to also say that Bruce Weber is a GREAT COACH. raspy voice notwithstanding. He's a more likable version of Gene Keady.
I think we have to also say that Bruce Weber is a GREAT COACH. raspy voice notwithstanding. He's a more likable version of Gene Keady.
I can understand the turnovers by Arizona. Illinois has a good defense. Their 3-point shots are what got them back into the game and those were hard to coach against.
I think the big mistake that Arizona made in the last 4 minutes was to not play the plays that got them the lead. Sure you run a little time off the clock but when there are 20 seconds left on the shot clock you play like you did when you got ahead by 15.
Lute has been at this game over 20 years. It really surprises me to see a Lute-coached team play like this.
I think the big mistake that Arizona made in the last 4 minutes was to not play the plays that got them the lead. Sure you run a little time off the clock but when there are 20 seconds left on the shot clock you play like you did when you got ahead by 15.
Lute has been at this game over 20 years. It really surprises me to see a Lute-coached team play like this.
Arizona dominated that game inside...don't think i saw the ball cross the FT line in the last 3:30. Terrible ending for AZ. What a joke! Illini could not stop them and they just decided to stop themselves. Lute Olsen should retire and all those kids for AZ should quit basketball for the rest of their lives....even though i saw way more pro talent on their team. They shouldn't be allowed to play a game ever again.
viking611 said:
Lute has never been a strong game coach, he prepares his team well and keeps them level, but strategy hasn't been his strong suit. He just recruits like no one can believe. If you have ever been to Tucson, you wouldn't believe a guy could get so many guys like that mostly from states other than Arizona to commit there.
Most of the players will be gone anyways, I think Adams and Shakur might declare considering Frye and Stoudamire are gone. Four future NBAers on that team and McClellan could be one in a few years as well, amazes me they couldn't get it done with that. Having watched them year after year, I have to say other than the team the year after they won the title this was the most pure talent they have ever had.
viking611 said:
Why...you hardly know me. Watch the tape you'll see. Only 1 other team could do what the illini did tonight. I understand that this site is full of haters...i guess because of jelousy or some bull shiit like that....but what IllY did was astonishing...and yeah AZ made a few mistakes but it shouldn't of mattered. ILLY wins again, haters keep hatin'.
viking611 said:
Your hatred for the Illini and jealousy towards Illini fans is so obvious that the more you post, the more it is clear that you watch these games through a different lense than the rest of us. You're borderline delusional, actually. You say AZ is way better that the Illini, and that they showed you a lot, and in the next sentence call them losers and say they should never be allowed to play again. You watch the most incredible comeback ever in a meaningful game, and still refuse to credit the #1 and Final Four bound Illini. Could care less what you think, cause your opinion means nothing to me. But as a friend, I need to point out how ridiculous you sound.
I think when the guy said "my mother wanted me to go to AZ because she was so impressed with Lute" tells ya somethin. AZ- great weather, lovely coeds, nice guy coach, tradition...****, I'd sign up. BUT, if Lute got ejected at the 4 min mark, this team would be great-maybe he should pull a Hackman and grab a drunk to bring em home every game!
viking611 said:
Watch the last 3:30 again. After 77-63, Arizona had 7 possessions, 4 of them were turnovers, twice they pounded it inside and got to the line and once they missed. It wasn't so much the strategy as it was the execution as Illinois kept stealing the ball away. They couldn't handle the pressure. If they had simply held onto the ball and either ran the clock or got fouled they would have won easily. The 4 turnovers were what killed them.
Salim should have had the ball and he should have drove hard to the lane , penetrated, dished or got fouled....Why hold the ball for a last shot that ended up being a very low percentage shot/brick? They played the last posession as if the game was tied....you couldn't have played it and dumber without just handing it to Illinois....great game, great comeback, last posession though made no sense.
