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This 72-71 loss to Tulsa is disappointing but not as disappointing as the decision coach Matt Doherty made. Or should I say, didn't make.

After Derrick Roberts calmly knocks down the two free throws with 6.7 ticks, we had one timeout on the board. In so many cases, a coach will almost always call timeout for two reasons:

1. Calm his players down.

2. Set up the defense so he can hopefully make the opponent burn more time than it wants and take a bad shot.

Neither happened. And really, 1 is more important than 2 because your kids are acting bonkers.

We don't put any soft press on McDade, who blows by John Killen and Papa Dia is pinned off so he can't provide any help defense. I'm sorry, but you don't allow a virtual uncontested layup at the end of the game.

I have no problem with the five on the floor, and I have no problem with who had the ball for Tulsa at the end -- it wasn't the Andrew kid who lit us up for 24. I can also live with a jumper from 15 feet beating you. I can't with something like that. Your defense has to win that game for you.

To his credit, Doherty admitted he messed up on not calling the timeout.

It's too bad for the kids because I think it's the best they looked all year -- better than TCU -- and they probably should have won the game.

Great atmosphere in Moody. Consider this a hard lesson to learn. And a timeout that won't carry over to Wednesday.

A game we should have won. Doh did take the blame for not callling a time out as well as not putting Papa in a position to score more in the second half.

At the same time Tulsa didn't have a timeout. Do you take the timeout to let Tulsa set up a play. It's 50/50 on what to do. The Mustangs are getting better.

Buckethead wrote:At the same time Tulsa didn't have a timeout. Do you take the timeout to let Tulsa set up a play. It's 50/50 on what to do. The Mustangs are getting better.

This might've actually been what Doh was thinking, but the truth of the matter is 6.7 sec isn't a lot of time. I think calming the players down at that point would've been more of an advantage than Tulsa being able to set a play.

smu diamond m wrote:I think calming the players down at that point would've been more of an advantage than Tulsa being able to set a play.

This cuts both ways though. The Tulsa players would have been calmed down too. Why do you assume SMU gets more of an advantage from calming down than the SMU players? Seems to me that part is equal for both teams so it cancels out.

If he calls a timeout and Tulsa draws up a play and scores people would be saying he should not have given them a chance to draw up a play.

Everythings happening so fast.

JK shadowed him like he should.
He had no weak side help.

Just a heartbreaking loss.

Buckethead wrote:At the same time Tulsa didn't have a timeout. Do you take the timeout to let Tulsa set up a play. It's 50/50 on what to do. The Mustangs are getting better.

I actually had no problem with them not calling a timeout for that exact reason. They just needed to get back on defense and not allow an easy play. They only needed to play tight defense for 6.7 seconds. Unfortunately, they let them drive all the way in to the basket and hit a last second runner. No way they should have gotten with 15 feet of the basket without being smothered.

Bob Knight would never have called a time out. Lets the offense set up a play.

IMHO, I think Tulsa drew up that play during the break (timeout?) before Roberts made the free throws (props to him). They already had the play drawn up - that's why it worked. Am I right?

side note - the halftime entertainment was hilarious

Mickey wrote:Bob Knight would never have called a time out. Lets the offense set up a play.

I love Knight, but I have never agreed with him on that. He traditionally has had great defensive teams who knew their assignments, so if they did what they were coached to do their spacing would normally be fine. We don't have that kind of defensive player. Killen blew his assignment and never kept McDade in front of him. He got too close and let McDade run by him at about the 3-point line.

Again, you can't take that timeout with you to New Orleans Wednesday.

6.7 seconds is an eternity.

Ty Edney went the length of the court in 4 seconds to beat Mizzou in the Tournament that one year.

Personally, I think with a young team like we have, you call the timeout to make sure they are all on the same page. With a more experienced team, you don't call the timeout. Clearly somebody missed their assignment for a guy to dribble the length of the floor for a lay up.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

He calls a TO and if Tulsa still makes their shot then people are wondering why we called a TO.

Killen was on him, could have been on him a little tighter obviously but he probably didn't want to foul him and give him a one and one. It also looked like Papa got boxed out from where he needed to be. Should have won the game but hopefully we pull out the next one and this makes us a better team by the CUSA Tourney or next season.

Does every CUSA team get to play in the CUSA tourney?

ponydawg wrote:Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

He calls a TO and if Tulsa still makes their shot then people are wondering why we called a TO.

Killen was on him, could have been on him a little tighter obviously but he probably didn't want to foul him and give him a one and one. It also looked like Papa got boxed out from where he needed to be. Should have won the game but hopefully we pull out the next one and this makes us a better team by the CUSA Tourney or next season.

Does every CUSA team get to play in the CUSA tourney?

Yes. It's 5-12, 6-11, 7-10, 8-9 in the first round of the tourney while 1, 2, 3, and 4 get a bye.