CLOSE-OUT

Congratulations to the University of Louisville; 2012-13 NCAA Champions.

I was hoping for a “Foul or Defend”  last night in our last game of the year but the Cards topped the Michigan Wolverines won it 82-76.

Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette wrote a column back in February on fouling or not fouling up three. A good read…

Here is my final “Foul or Defend” numbers on the year in D-1 men’s basketball: Special thanks to everyone that helped with the study.

466 cases.

46 fouled – 43 were successful. Fouling up three and less than :07 to play.  (93% success rate)

420 defended.

75 gave up a three; forcing overtime.  (17% failure rate)

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Twitter: @CoachFinamore

FINAL 4: FOUL OR DEFEND

We almost had a “Foul or Defend” in both semi-final games tonight!

Syracuse was down three with the ball and :15 to play.

Trevor Cooney brought the ball up the floor and drove right. He got his shot off with :09 to play, too much time to foul.  Michigan rebounded the miss, pushed it down court and scored.

Game over, Michigan moves on to the championship game.

In the first game tonight Lousiville beat Wichita State 72-68. Luke Hancock of Louisville made 1 of 2 FT’s and on the miss, the Shockers rebounded with :08 to play, Cards up three. Foul or defend was all set but Hancock tied up a Shocker player on the loose ball; possession arrow to the Cards.

Russ Smith was fouled, he made 1 of 2.

Game over.

We have one college basketball game to play in the 2012-2013 season. Monday night for all the marbles; Louisville vs Michigan.

On the year there has been 466 cases in men’s D-1 basketball.

46 have fouled/43 have gone away with the win. 

420 have defended/75 have made a game tying three-point shot. (17%).

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Twitter: @CoachFinamore

FOULING UP THREE

Last night Penn State and Iowa were in a battle.  The Hawkeyes were up three, less than seconds to play in the game and on defense.

And sports fans, we call that, “Foul or Defend?”

Iowa fouled with 1.5 seconds remaining and Penn State trailing by three. Jermaine Marshall of PSU calmly sunk the first free throw. He then tried to intentionally miss the second shot, giving the Nittany Lions a chance to get an offensive rebound and tie the game.

“I tried to push it long, and I did, but it ended up going in,” said Marshall.

In 34 situations this season in college basketball, 32 times the team that fouled, came away with the win without going to overtime.

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Twitter: @CoachFinamore

THE UGLY SIDE

This is why some coaches will not foul.

-CoachFinamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com