FOUL! for the love of god FOUL!

W

Wulaw Horn

1,000+ Posts
How many games have we seen needlessly go into overtime or have a heart attack or require miracles by UT (WVU in the tourney) b/c we don't foul up 3 with less than 5 seconds. We could have fouled about 5 different times last night. Instead they got a great look at an open rim and could have sent the game to OT.

I really don't understand Barnes lack of fouling- yes there was that boneheaded foul by Buckman in stoolwater 3 or 4 years ago- but that was a lack of intelligent execution that bit us. It would have been so easy to foul last night.
 
Yeah, I was actually thinking about this last night after the game and it bugged me. In order for the foul to backfire, the following things have to happen:

First free throw is made
Second is intentionally missed
Offensive Rebound
Putback
OT

As opposed to a ~45% 3 point shooter missing an open look. I know Barnes is never going to change his strategy, but it seems a little odd.
 
Most coaches do not foul in that situation. Announcers often question that but they don't seem to do it.

And that was NOT a good look!
 
here's the problem with fouling. 1) you have to time it right or else they get 3 shots and we are dealing with collegiate athletes. 2) let's say you time it right, foul, but leave too much time, so they foul you, you miss a freebie, and they then have a shot at the win.
 
We have fouled before. 2005 at Okie St, Buckman, after playing a great game fouls around half court with under 1 second left. Only problem was they called it a shooting foul. Luckily they missed the second, and had to trip for the tip in to tie it. But the point is, if they throw up a desperation shot while you're trying to foul them, then they can tie the game at the line. I'm not saying which way is better, just that committing the foul isn't a perfect plan.
 
Root- I acknowledged that it backfired that one time- 1 time.

And it was a great look- percetnage wise compared to what would have to happen to beat you if we had fouled after getting into the front court with 3 or 4 seconds For end of game- 8 seconds left scenario it was a great look. Absolutely.
 
I thought it was not a good look at all. In fact at the game I thought time had expired, and was going to check it out when I got hom. But my DVR finished up with 23 seconds to play.
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If you can't see how many variables fouling brings in, you are not basketball-savy. First, and the hardest, is fouling at the right time, which seems easy watching the game at home. Now, say you do that right, they now have FT's....which is the WORST thing for the team that's a head (the team behind is scoring WITHOUT the clock moving, standard no-no if you're in the lead). Also, FT"s brings in missed free throws, which brings in loose ball fouls and....worse....OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS (hey, it's not that crazy). Last, say you foul up 3, they hit both free throws.....now, you have to inbound the ball (not a piece of cake), control it, get it into the hands of a good FT shooter, and hope he makes both FT's.....if not, you are up 1 or 2 and could LOSE. I'm just saying, I can DEFINATELY see how coaches would rather play good solid defense than bring in that situation that breeds a lot of other situations that are rarely practiced. You practice man to man, three point shooting defense every day. Just saying.
 
It's too risky to do in college unless KU was inbounding with under 3-5 seconds, which wasn't the case here. I'd do it every time in the NBA.

In this case, KU has a bunch of athletes and has the size advantage. They would probably get a good shot at getting the rebound off the 2nd missed FT (intentionally).

Plus, we're not a good FT shooting team either. Even if we did get the rebound from the 2nd FT miss, it would probably be James that gets it, and he's not a good FT shooter.

I liked what we did. For the most part, we guarded the three point line, knowing they had to make a three. I think only one player was near the basket, while the other 4 UT players were running frantically around the three point line trying to get a hand in Chalmers' face.
 
There is a reason why fouling to prevent threes is done in the NBA a lot. Obviously, the players are NOT ready to throw the ball to the hoop, otherwise the fouling would not occur. In that case, you could fake a foul and force them to throw up a wild shot. Also, a player can grab the offensive player so that he's not even capable of shooting. You just have to be careful, but it can be done and it is done a lot.

It is a smart strategy and statistically more effective than just letting them shoot a three.
 
Last night might not have been a great look , but i think it was good enough. i dont necessarily think fouling was the right decision either. Just play good man to man D.
 
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