Justin (Login Justin1) from IP address 152.163.205.82
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With 10 seconds left and UT up 94-91, why wouldn't you foul Florida, make them hit the first free throw, miss the second and hit a miracle two-point basket? Other than that, which ended up costing UT the game, I thought he had a good game plan to break Florida's press with the big man in the middle to help out. UT was also able to break down Florida's half court zone defense.
Teams better get us this year because when Buzz gets his players in here UT will kick ass. Buzz is a very good coach. He has a very good recruiting class on the way. 2003 is off to a good start also. He got a commitment from the top junior in the state. I hope fellow Rebel Lee Humphrey joins the vols in a few years.
I was proud of the vols tonight. That was a tough loss. Florida is much better than us at the guard position. Haislip has improved 100%. He came up big tonight.
I would have fouled with less than 12 seconds to go. But a lot of coaches hate to do that. I don't know why, but they do. The late Al McGwire thought you should foul in those circumstances, but he said some coaches are just fundamentally against it. I would have fouled, and then maybe call a timeout after their first freethrow.
I've personally never thought it that smart to foul late, IMO stopping the clock is the worst possible thing to happen. The chances of making a freethrow and getting the "miracle two" are about the same as getting that prayer that Nelson threw up to fall. Still, some coaches do foul in that situation but I'm sure they've been burned before too.
UT played a hell of a game, it's too bad for them that they didn't get the W.
I was screaming it at the top of my lungs during the time out. FOUL, FOUL, FOUL. Memphis did it so us when we were down three and it worked.
This loss is a spirit killer & to those bastards in orange & blue to boot. Our guards didn't do much to hurt us but you see the difference in guard play in crucial conference games. Our frontcourt won the battle.
You are right Justin, if there was one HUGE mistake Buzz made tonight it was not fouling around half court. Losing this game is very deflating, much like the loss to LSU in football. But I can't use the excuse that we beat ourselves, Florida took it. Congratulations to our Gator visitors. We had the game but managed it poorly in the final minute 32. Missing 15 free throws, good heavens how in the hell can consistent free throw shooters like RS, VY & MH miss one a piece with the game on the line.
We are starting to remind me of last year's LSU team. They played everybody close but lost by a few in the final minutes each game.
Unfortunately a feel good or moral victory is non existant when it comes to conference play.
We needed this game badly. I felt it was a must win going in. I am proud of the coaching & hustle for most of the game but disappointed that Buzz didn't see fit to foul with a 3 point lead & 10 seconds left.
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Demand Excellence
from your University!
..so says the Mouthpiece
Guys, first of all, I'm not going to carry water for anybody. I think Buzz made a mistake by not fouling with 10 seconds, BUT I think he is a very good coach. The previous coach we had couldn't break Florida's press or traps with three point guards on the team last year. Buzz's team beat the press easily. Buzz's team also found ways to break down Florida's man and zone. It's a tough loss, no doubt.
Congrats to the Gators on their win. Those two freshmen they have are living up to their billing.
Good gameplan and good effort from the players. Incredible effort, as a matter of fact. They will play hard the next game, I am sure. Buzz will not let these guys give up, even though there's been more heartbreaking losses than a team should endure in a decade.
I'll tell you the truth, I am amazed that the Vols dang-near beat a top-three UF team tonight, considering the guard situation. The guards will have to give another supreme effort at Georgia this Sat. in order to have a chance to win.
Better free throw shooting would have kept them out of that situation. They hit their free throws down the stretch, they win the game. Nelson's shot was the dagger in their heart, not the reason they lost.
