Is this right?.........

[the_fix_is_on]

I think the refs had a lot to do with the comeback.
The hackjob at midcourt that resulted in a steal and easy layup for Illinois when AZ was up about 6 should have been a foul. If you watch that replay, the guy with the ball had his arm butchered and the ball knocked away. It almost looked like he was being intentionally fouled. But there was no foul and 2 more points to boot. From there on out, the game was hectic and unofficiated. I don't think the refs called a single foul the rest of the way. The crowd was going wild (being in Illinois) and the refs decided to sit back and watch. I'd call it home cooking, but that's just my opinion.

 

[toastonastick]

the refs can't knockdown three's. Great game to watch!

 

[Okie]

Fix I agree!

Fix I agree!

Mi 2 Sense
A ton of fouls (not called) on Illinois late greatly contributed to comeback. Another reason that game should not have been played in Chicago.

Ariz is the better team!

Also the 3 point line needs to be moved back (way easy) It is tooo much a part of the game.

 

[Hokie Fan]

Not that I was asked but,

It was a great game, leave it at that, amazing comeback by the Illini and Arizona has nothing to be ashamed of.

My question. Is this a different ending if the game is played anywhere else but Illinios backyard?
Austin? Syracuse? anywhere but Chicago....
I didnt see much Wildcat support when that ending run started.
Just a sea of Illini fans..

Food for thought... Happy Easter

 

[Kdogg21]

Lute was saying Adams was either suppose to dish the ball to Salim or Frye, but he was suprised that Williams went up in Adams face and he didn't have much of a chance after that. Everybody else was guarded.

 

[Hoops]

Lute called the play for Adams to take the final shot. Said it during his press conference after the game. He didn't want it in Stoudamire's hands figuring Illinois would double team and he would have to pass the ball to an open player for a 3pt shot.

Doesn't really make any sense. Adams was having a great game but since when is he a breakdown the defense from the top of the key type of player? Great slasher from the wing or baseline, but I've never seen him in basically a 1-4 clearout type situation with the game on the line. I don't care that Stoudamire was having a bad game or that he would have gotten double-teamed. He got the team to where they are and hit the huge shot, while double-teamed, against Okie St.

Terrible decision by Olsen. Put your players in the best position to win the game. He didn't do that.

 

[pt1gard]

few points some of you will never get i guess ...

zona played in hostile environment vs best team in nation and could've won and played a great game...

they had ONE turnover vs press, the rest in halfcourt ...

when L. Head stole pass making it 77-70, Frye was fouled badly thats why they got turnover--watch it again if you disagree (was that Lutes fault? And they call foul I sincerely doubt Illni has any chance to win--breaks and fortune win more games than anything)

at end when h. adams (who was 9/12 before that shot and salin 2/13), took his shot, if he shoots 1 sec earlier, Shakur sinks putback (probabaly--or if ball bounces slightly different) for winning layin b/c dee brown had totally fallen alsep on box out... and then Webber is the idiot for not having team ready blah blah ...

so many nowadays love to heap blame... wasnt Illini choking for 39 minutes? why cant both teams have played great and not say this guy lost it or that coach--that game wasnt lost by anyone; mcclennan made incredible block and stole ball with zona up 9 late in game, at that point not one of you haters woulda thought Illini had a chance, but they won game with incredible trey shooting and never quitting ...

People who blame Lute etc, have never been in true competition and it shows ... give some credit instead of like our society who loves to point fingers at the loser and ass kiss the winner all the time ... the fine line between the two like i said was dee brown's final box out and 1 tick of clock, not chokers ...

Ive been on both sides as a coach, losing at buzzer and winning, being humble and recognizing the others effort is a much mroe magnanimous way to live one's life

I have Illini at 14/1 to win it all, yet recognized Zona's greatness in that game. Well done and my sorrow to Nickelback and any other Zona backer.

gl
gregg

ps hoops as for the decision on Adams, I truly guess Lute weighed salims last few forays and figured he was done, in watching the last 10 minutes again last nite, he looked completely exhausted and had taken some horrible shots ... To blame Lute (not saying ur b/c we seem to agree on most things) for zona losing game on that play, well you are smart guy and know it didnt come to that.

 

[zig]

The coach is always partly responsible for his teams wins and losses.

 

[Hoops]

Putting your team and players in the best possible situation to win the game is the responsibility of the coach. Olsen, quite simply, didn't do that.

Stoudamire, even if he got doubled, could have created a shot for an open player off the double team. He wasn't shooting well, but had seven assists. Sorry, with my teams season on the line, I want my best player at least touching the ball once.

Tell me how many times Adams had the ball in his hands in a 1-4 set, with the game on the line, from the top of the key, with the teams best defender on him? I haven't seen all of Arizona's games, but I think the safe assumption would be zero.

That isn't his game...breaking down the defense from the top of the key. He's a slasher, offensive rebound, open court type of player who has worked on his perimeter shot enough to where he can be effective from outside when open. After the game Adams said that even though Olsen called the play for him, he was still thinking of passing to Stoudamire...which tells me he wasn't prepared or confident enough to take the shot.

 

[pt1gard]

i understand your point, they did give ball to Salim in regulation and he came up empty---I really think he was gassed, but your point is well taken