I read all these posts tonight about the great Huggins and how he adjusted the defense and we had no answers. It is true that his defensive adjustment did make a difference. It is, also, true that Bob Huggins doesn't guard free throws. If we hit free throws, last night, like we did on Thursday evening, we win. If Huggins was so much better than Weber, why was he down for all of the game? Even with the 1-3-1, we missed four or five open three's. Sneed had one three, which was half way down and came back out. I think Wes had one that rimmed in and out. Brown had one that just missed. Any one of these threes go in, and we're talking about how Weber's game plan was masterful. We penetrated the zone, several times, for short range jumpers that failed to go down. On another two occasions, we passed up an open three with 5-6 seconds on the shot clock and ended up having to slop up a prayer.
The only thing we lack is an experienced playmaker....it's the whole difference in this team not having 25 plus wins this year. It was extremely clear, on our last possession, when such a player would have gone right down the court and attack the basket when 21 seconds remained in the game and we were down one. You get to put the ball up on the glass and possibly draw a foul if they dare guard you. Or, your bigs get a chance to follow and get a put back. If you fail, you still have 10 seconds to foul with another chance to tie or win. You give yourself two chances. We got the ball up slowly, after the West Virginia free throw, and then Weber has to call time out because no one is going to attack. An experienced playmaker would have known that by instinct.
And what about the great Frank Martin? You know. The guy who inherited Huggins DC pipeline players and had some successful years in Manhattan. Well, this great coach has the SEC player of the year and one of the better playmaker's in the nation. Because of this, his team started out well. Now , it is falling apart. They've lose something like five out of seven. His team, this year, is getting worse as the year goes by just many did when he was here.
