Worst. Call. Ever.

[Deleted]

First of all, what a comeback by Illinois against a really good 'Zona team

More importantly - what the hell kind of last shot was that? Did Esherick draw that up for Braswell or Hall?? I'm almost certain (in fact I'd "bet my life" on it) Lute didn't draw it up that way, but what the hell was that? A guy who isn't an outside shooter grabs it a few feet behind the 3-pt line, holds it, holds it, holds it and jacks one up at the buzzer?! If you watch the replay, nobody was moving, everyone was watching... wow. I feel for Arizona fans who must be staring at the TV in disbelief saying "What the... how... who... where... huh?!" (at least that's what I used to do when GU would have 20 seconds and the last shot and not even get one off).

[alleninxis]

first off, there should of never been an overtime.
Brown's steal was a reach in and the inbound pass to Frye was a foul. very upset right now

[alleninxis]

you are right, but cant really knock Adams, because he was the only reason they were alive in OT.
Regardless the ball has to be in Stoudamires hands

[RDF]

Those were fouls but the AGGRESSOR gets the calls and all Olson and Cats had to do was attack the basket with two on one opportunities and they'd have won this game by at least 12 pts. They didn't, allowed the Illini to take advantage of the "neutral site" and get a few breaks.

With that said, I'm furious as I'm sick of hearing about the "greatness" of Illinois and the Big 10 and Bruce Weber's dead mother. I am sorry for his family but for God's sake people die every day and what makes his situation any more important/special than those others who've lost someone? Death is hurtful to all families that have to deal with it, not just a Basketball Coach who coaches a top 5 team. But then again, my family's losses don't provide verses for DORK Enberg's queer poems he recites during the Final 4, so guess that's why Weber's loss is more important.

[alleninxis]

^ Illinois is actually becoming the new Duke to me.
I cant stand this team, Louisville will beat them and if not UNC will take care of business

[One]

You guys are right about that final call. As for some of the other calls, like the steal by Dee Brown, you're wrong. No way was that a foul.
As for the Illini and Bruce Weber, I dont understand how you can say they're the "next Duke." Is it because they're a really good team who beats everyone they play this season? In any other respect they're nothing like any Duke team. And as for Bruce Weber, I too find it really hard to root for a guy who paid all his dues working as an assistant for Gene Keady for 18 years and then working as a head coach at a mid-major for several more years before getting a chance at a big time program. I'd much rather root for one of those coaches who got a big time opportunity after 2-3 years at one of the famed "coaching tree" schools like Duke, or one of those coaches who runs a boring offense focused on exploiting one-on-one matchups rather than moving the ball and playing as a team. Yeah, that would be much better.

[hoyalove4ever]

The notion that the last play was by any means Olson's fault is absurd. Of course he didn't draw it up like that, but like most plays, it doesn't go actually the way the coach called it. I imagine that one of the guards was supposed to get the ball, but A) it was overtime and people were tired, so some standing around is natural and B) Illinois is the superior team, and they have the capacity to deny Arizona's guards the ball.

Moreoever, Adams waited too long to start the play, as often happens in such situations. The bottom line is that Adams is a good player having a very good game. He is also an outstanding athlete who has the ability to make things happen. He should have probably put his head down, tried to get in the lane, and used his raw ability to get some sort of shot off, hoping to either get fouled or draw defenders and open up an offensive rebound chance for someone else. But it didn't go down that way. To me, that it more the result of a player not making a play than the play being poorly designed.

[One]

I think you're right hoyalove. In the postgame press conference, Lute said the play was designed for Adams to have the ball up top with Channing Frye supposed to flash into the lane to post up. If that failed, Adams was supposed to take the ball to the basket, as he had done with some success during the game, with the added possibility of drawing a foul. In watching the replays on SportsCenter and the local news, Frye never made himself an option down low and Adams ended up waiting too long to be able to drive to the basket. Interestingly, Deron Williams had been guarding Stoudamire much of the game but was cramping up during the final timeout. The Illini thought Stoudamire would get the ball, so Williams asked to guard someone else because he couldnt really move well anymore. The Illini put Head, they're top defender most of the season, on Stoudamire with Williams switching to Adams. With the play going to Adams instead of Stoudamire, Williams ended up having to defend the final play anyway.
In any event, I still cant believe Lute didnt put the ball in his All-Americans hands at the end. He did win the game for them Thursday, along with 2 (I think) other buzzer beaters this season.

[RDF]

One said:

You guys are right about that final call. As for some of the other calls, like the steal by Dee Brown, you're wrong. No way was that a foul.
As for the Illini and Bruce Weber, I dont understand how you can say they're the "next Duke." Is it because they're a really good team who beats everyone they play this season? In any other respect they're nothing like any Duke team. And as for Bruce Weber, I too find it really hard to root for a guy who paid all his dues working as an assistant for Gene Keady for 18 years and then working as a head coach at a mid-major for several more years before getting a chance at a big time program. I'd much rather root for one of those coaches who got a big time opportunity after 2-3 years at one of the famed "coaching tree" schools like Duke, or one of those coaches who runs a boring offense focused on exploiting one-on-one matchups rather than moving the ball and playing as a team. Yeah, that would be much better.

One, I've got no problem with how Illinois plays and they are a very good team. I do have a problem with Weber (although I don't view him or Illini anywhere near Duke in terms of hatred). Living in middle of Big 10 country, I can attest to the fact that anyone associated with Gene Keady is known for being a dirty recruiter and ethically challenged. Clem Haskins is the prime example of a Gene Keady influence. Keady has been clean for a while and you see the results on the court. He came from Juco and he, Haskins, and Matt Painter all had some questionable things going on in terms of what's been allowed at their stops--Painter really bending some academic rules to get some players into Southern Illinois after Weber's departure for Illinois.

Weber's behavior off the court is as odd and weird as his childish fits he throws during a game. The fake Funeral he had last year was not only odd, it was tasteless and wonder what he'd feel if another coach showed up and did that to him in light of what happened to his mother? I'd hope he's learned that mocking death is not funny and is very tasteless. If I was the AD at Illinois I'd have not only reprimanded him for doing so (for those who don't know he showed up to a team meeting wearing all Black and announced that it was Bill Self's funeral and that era as DEAD) but I'd have told him to undergo some psychological testing for being a weird mofo.

Weber acts like a jerkoff during games, running onto the court, yelling at refs constantly, and basically sitting back and winning with players he didn't recruit. I like his offense and feel it's nice to see team basketball played, but I thought he was not only outcoached yesterday, he didn't do anything to adjust. He got a few breaks on non-calls and mugging being allowed, and his guys hit some big shots while Arizona went passive, but this guy is not someone I view as a longterm success simply for the fact he's someone who's participated in unethical programs---Steve Lavin is another former Gene Keady protoge and he was dirty too--and he's got some real issues with his behavior that I question.

[One]

Sorry RDF, we'll have to agree to disagree. As someone who grew up in the midst of Big 10 country as well, I totally disagree with your characterization of Gene Keady's program. As for Weber, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesnt, same as Bill Self right now. In that, I mean if he wins, its because he is winning with someone else's (Bill Self's) players and not because he is a good coach (in Self's case, its with Roy Williams' recruits). If he loses, its because he's not a good coach or can't get his own good players. As for recruiting, you may notice Purdue's slide in talent also coincides with Weber's departure to SIU as he was Keadys top recruiter while in West Lafayette. That said, you may still have a point. Illinois does not have a highly touted class for next year and GU may end up catching them at a good time next season. The jury may still be out on Weber long term, I just think its unfair to claim he will be a short term success right now in the midst of such a great run. For this season, he cant help that he has someone else's players, much like JTIII, Bill Self, and Roy Williams. I guess we can revisit Weber's long term viability circa 2007-08, though I doubt there will be much interest on this board. Right now, however, there's no point.

[Deleted]

Up until today, the 'Zona end-of-the-game call was the worst ever (again, I don't think its what Lute had in mind, but things just fell apart). That has now been eclipsed by Kentucky's no-shot to end the first overtime. How do you not get a shot off? This consistent inability to get good plays off plagues college hoop - and I can't figure out why. Call a play! Start it with 10-12 seconds so you can get an offensive rebound! GOOD LORD!!! Even Esherick ball never looked as bad as these two end-of-game calls 'Zona and KU threw at us.

hoyalover - I never meant to imply it was Olsen's fault, in fact I wrote I'd bet my life it wasn't what he drew up.

[Deleted]

How are the announcers letting Tubby and his boys off the hook for not fouling at the end of the second overtime? If you don't get the steal in the backcourt or the 10 second call, you foul right away once they get over half court. C'mon, Kentucky. That was almost as inexcusable as the no-shot at the end of the first overtime. Horrid!!!

[DanMcQ]

Buffalo - check out GPHoya's summary of the Kentucky endgame in the NCAA Regionals thread above.

[RDF]

One said:

Sorry RDF, we'll have to agree to disagree. As someone who grew up in the midst of Big 10 country as well, I totally disagree with your characterization of Gene Keady's program. As for Weber, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesnt, same as Bill Self right now. In that, I mean if he wins, its because he is winning with someone else's (Bill Self's) players and not because he is a good coach (in Self's case, its with Roy Williams' recruits). If he loses, its because he's not a good coach or can't get his own good players. As for recruiting, you may notice Purdue's slide in talent also coincides with Weber's departure to SIU as he was Keadys top recruiter while in West Lafayette. That said, you may still have a point. Illinois does not have a highly touted class for next year and GU may end up catching them at a good time next season. The jury may still be out on Weber long term, I just think its unfair to claim he will be a short term success right now in the midst of such a great run. For this season, he cant help that he has someone else's players, much like JTIII, Bill Self, and Roy Williams. I guess we can revisit Weber's long term viability circa 2007-08, though I doubt there will be much interest on this board. Right now, however, there's no point.

The recruiting slid at Purdue when Lavin and Kendrick left and the talent stopped rolling in. Weber was the "X's and O's" guy and Kendrick and Lavin were in charge of assembling players and doing it by any means necessary. Keady worked at WKU and that's how he got to be buddies with Clem the Gem Haskins. WKU was on probation under Haskins, Minnesota was under probation with Haskins, and to this day those two are tight and Clem considers Keady his "mentor". So does Lavin who was busted for dirty recruiting--Jaron Rush and KC AAU Team with Myron Piggie involved. Kendrick was in trouble at Purdue for the Glenn Robinson recruitment and to this day since those guys left and Purdue's gone clean, the talent has dried up and they've stunk.

Weber is a nice coach in terms of his system--it's good basketball and fun to watch. I thought he was completely out of his league yesterday though. He didn't adjust at all--his team fired 3pt shots all game and didn't really attack a shaky ball handling team until it was desperation time. Then he admits he has no clue what happened and in this case I honestly believe him. To his defense, you always look better as a coach when shots fall, so that's not his fault but there was less ball movement and to be honest if this game was played anywhere outside of state of Illinois, Zona wins by 15-20.

Illini have played one team in NCAA's who was a threat and were thoroughly outplayed/outcoached but took advantage of their breaks which deserves credit. I just don't see how everyone's got them walking over Louisville, who's hottest team in country right now. If they play like this againt Pitino, he'll beat them. However, I think they will play better because their guards should handle Louisville's pressure. Just surprised at how poorly they played when facing a legit good team for first time in NCAA's and with all the advantages they had, to me that doesn't speak well for the job Weber did.