Larry Brown's coaching mistake

[B1GPonyFan]

Right as this game started, I saw Sterling Brown matched up against Austin Hollins. And I thought, "Are you kidding me? He put a freshman against a very savvy senior?"

I texted several friends last night at the first media timeout about this and said I don't like this. I know Austin's game. He's been so on fire here the last 3 weeks. He just went off 32 against So. Miss in the quarterfinals. He made big shots that beat Iowa and Penn State in the Big 10 tournament. Austin has been taking this to another level.

Sterling is a great competitor but I just think this was the wrong matchup. Austin's been around the block. And look what happened at the end. The blown non-call notwithstanding, Sterling got caught off a pick because he was a little frazzled, Austin was as cool as ice and drilled a wide open look.

I just don't know why Austin wasn't Nick Russell's assignment. If Nick Russell can guard Shabazz Napier, why isn't he taking Austin?

Larry's career speaks for itself. I just disagreed with him on this.

[fifty]

I have a question (seriously). When I watched Minn vs Florida St, I remember Florida State being behind and just fouling the player they want on the FT line before the ball was even in-bounded. This put Minn on the FT line and Fla St would get the ball back with no time having elapsed.

They did this 2 or 3 times. Why did we not do this?

[B1GPonyFan]

I have a question (seriously). When I watched Minn vs Florida St, I remember Florida State being behind and just fouling the player they want on the FT line before the ball was even in-bounded. This put Minn on the FT line and Fla St would get the ball back with no time having elapsed.

They did this 2 or 3 times. Why did we not do this?

I personally don't think Florida State was trying to do that intentionally. One of those was when the FSU guy grabbed (I think) Andre Hollins jersey. The Nole looked a little stunned that it was even called.

[StallionsModelT]

Sterling Brown has been a key player for us all year. No reason to change things in the last game of the NIT. He's seen better competition. The coaching mistake was allowing Ryan Manuel to be on the floor for such a long period of time late in the game.

[Lebanese4Life]

Another question... what was the reason why we didn't take a three when we were down 3? Nic Moore instead drove to the hoop and got a basket, but only about 4.5 seconds was remaining. We had enough time to get a 3 off in that possession..

[B1GPonyFan]

Another question... what was the reason why we didn't take a three when we were down 3? Nic Moore instead drove to the hoop and got a basket, but only about 4.5 seconds was remaining. We had enough time to get a 3 off in that possession..

Didn't like that either. My belief is if you're down 3 with 15-18 seconds to play, you have to go three because of the odds of going 2 for 1 and scoring each time are really low.

Sterling should have been on Dre Hollins. Dre had been slumping. I think Larry made a mistake.

[mrydel]

It was supposed to be a 3 but there was a missed screen. Nic was supposed to kick it out and there was no one there. He just got caught up and I guess was hoping to maybe draw a foul but Minn was smart enough to lay off.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

It was supposed to be a 3 but there was a missed screen. Nic was supposed to kick it out and there was no one there. He just got caught up and I guess was hoping to maybe draw a foul but Minn was smart enough to lay off.

Exactly.

[Lebanese4Life]

thanks

[GiddyUp]

Not going to dwell on it, but plenty of LB mistakes last night. Head and Yanick don't play hardly the entire NIT but get minutes. Larry feels bad, so he'll put them in...

anyway, many others - kind of hard to scout a team with such short notice though.

[malachi896]

It was supposed to be a 3 but there was a missed screen. Nic was supposed to kick it out and there was no one there. He just got caught up and I guess was hoping to maybe draw a foul but Minn was smart enough to lay off.

Exactly. IF you watch the replay, Nick was supposed to curl off a screen from Markus and get open for a three. Markus' screen was pretty bad, and Nick couldn't get open as a result. Little Nic had no option but to take it in for the easy 2. That play was well defended by Minnesota and not well executed by us. In the Cal game, we ran a screen play perfectly to get the open three. In this game, it didn't come together. It happens.

[Junior]

shot fake

secondary defender

[Pony Fan]

Another question... what was the reason why we didn't take a three when we were down 3? Nic Moore instead drove to the hoop and got a basket, but only about 4.5 seconds was remaining. We had enough time to get a 3 off in that possession..

I agree but thought maybe he was trying to draw a foul.

[jimhagle]

Nick had time to move the ball around to someone else to get a 3 point shot off. He screwed up, period. And Manuel's gaffes were HUGE. And I know he was only in for defense but.....he is so out of control at times but then the team was as a whole throughout the game too.

[StallionsModelT]

Manuel won't be on the floor next year in those situations.