Post Mortem from NY Post

[The Sultan]

Sorry, but Pitino should have walked away and screamed at someone in the game to foul Kolek.

The game was over. It didn't matter.

[MU82]

The game was over. It didn't matter.

Down 8 with about a minute left to a team that missed a bunch of FTs and was loose with the ball down the stretch the very last time they met.

You don't think you at least have to foul Kolek immediately, try to make MU successfully inbound the ball, and then foul again to send someone to the line for a 1-and-1?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Wow we have chicken shiit fans.  Why?  We beat them twice twice year.  Don't believe in Shaka's recruiting?   Don't believe in Shaka's coaching?    I would think that St John's would not want to play Marquette.

Man back in December you were good King COLE

[94Warrior]

Down 8 with about a minute left to a team that missed a bunch of FTs and was loose with the ball down the stretch the very last time they met.

You don't think you at least have to foul Kolek immediately, try to make MU successfully inbound the ball, and then foul again to send someone to the line for a 1-and-1?

And, the game at Fiserv last March when the walk-ons were in the game with an 8 point lead and under 40 seconds to play?  I believe StJ has FTs to win but couldnt convert.

[wisblue]

A significant part of not wanting to play SJ in the BET is that it is one of their home courts.

If I have a choice between a number of teams that are otherwise fairly equal, I'd rather not play one that is playing effectively a home game.

[PGsHeroes32]

And, the game at Fiserv last March when the walk-ons were in the game with an 8 point lead and under 40 seconds to play?  I believe StJ has FTs to win but couldnt convert.

They had a chance to tie

[Herman Cain]

Elite BE foe...

https://nypost.com/2024/02/10/sports/st-johns-battles-but-falls-to-big-east-power-marquette/

Any win for a Pitino coached team is an Excellent win. Even sweeter now that Pitino is back in The Big East with The Johnnies as it generates this kind of positive publicity.

[The Sultan]

Down 8 with about a minute left to a team that missed a bunch of FTs and was loose with the ball down the stretch the very last time they met.

You don't think you at least have to foul Kolek immediately, try to make MU successfully inbound the ball, and then foul again to send someone to the line for a 1-and-1?

Nope. It was over.

[BallBoy]

Sorry, but Pitino should have walked away and screamed at someone in the game to foul Kolek.

He did twice.

The game was over. It was a three possession game with MU up 8 with 1:02 left in the game. Since St John's turned it over and MU had possession, it was the equivalent of a 4 possession game.  MU would have to had missed four straight front ends.

Not only were they behind in the score but the refs let them play so St John's had to foul at least two times to even get into the bonus.

[wisblue]

As has been mentioned, last year in a very similar situation, MU missed several free throws in the last minute and turned the ball over on an inbound play, SJ made a a few circus 3 point shots, including one that turned into a 4 point play when an MU player was pushed into the shooter, and SJ ended up with a free throw that could have tied the game and sent it to OT.

The vast, vast majority of coaches would have started fouling with a minute left. All it takes is one missed FT and a quick 3 on the other end and the screws start to tighten. A lot of teams keep fouling a lot later than that down by 8.

I bet that if MU threw in the towel down by 8 with a minute to go fans would rake Shaka over the coals.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I was at the game and was shocked they didn't foul. 

[MU82]

Nope. It was over.

You and I usually agree on basketball stuff. You're wrong on this one.

Foul, MU misses a 1-and-1, SJ hits a quick 3, foul, MU misses a 1-and-1, SJ hits a quick 3 ... it's a 2-point game with 25 seconds left.

I mean, c'mon Sultan ... You saw the earlier SJ game. You saw the game at Creighton a few years ago - we were down 5 with like 5 seconds left and still came back to tie at the buzzer and then win in OT. You saw the Davidson NCAAT game. Those are just three off the top of my head where the situations were very similar.

Was it probably over? Sure, we can agree on that. Definitely over? No way; we're both old enough to have seen plenty of last-minute craziness on the court.

I bet that if MU threw in the towel down by 8 with a minute to go fans would rake Shaka over the coals.

You'd win that bet ... and I'd be one of the rakers.

It was stunning that Pitino didn't foul there. And if he let himself get distracted by some silly confrontation with one of his own players, that's not an excuse, it's an indictment.

[The Sultan]

You and I usually agree on basketball stuff. You're wrong on this one.

Foul, MU misses a 1-and-1, SJ hits a quick 3, foul, MU misses a 1-and-1, SJ hits a quick 3 ... it's a 2-point game with 25 seconds left.

I mean, c'mon Sultan ... You saw the earlier SJ game. You saw the game at Creighton a few years ago - we were down 5 with like 5 seconds left and still came back to tie at the buzzer and then win in OT. You saw the Davidson NCAAT game. Those are just three off the top of my head where the situations were very similar.

Was it probably over? Sure, we can agree on that. Definitely over? No way; we're both old enough to have seen plenty of last-minute craziness on the court.

You'd win that bet ... and I'd be one of the rakers.

It was stunning that Pitino didn't foul there. And if he let himself get distracted by some silly confrontation with one of his own players, that's not an excuse, it's an indictment.

Nope. I am right. It was over. You're just doing your normal sportswriter being dramatic schtick.

[MU82]

Nope. I am right. It was over. You're just doing your normal sportswriter being dramatic schtick.

You're just doing your "I said it, so even though evidence was presented that refutes what I said, I'll die on my hill" schtick.

Apparently, you also thought the Creighton and Davidson games were over. And you certainly were right about those.

[barfolomew]

Nope. I am right. It was over. You're just doing your normal sportswriter being dramatic schtick.

[94Warrior]

Was the StJ's game last March over when Shaka had the walk-ons in?  Shaka thought so, so did I, we were both wrong.

[Dr. Blackheart]

You and I usually agree on basketball stuff. You're wrong on this one.

Foul, MU misses a 1-and-1, SJ hits a quick 3, foul, MU misses a 1-and-1, SJ hits a quick 3 ... it's a 2-point game with 25 seconds left.

I mean, c'mon Sultan ... You saw the earlier SJ game. You saw the game at Creighton a few years ago - we were down 5 with like 5 seconds left and still came back to tie at the buzzer and then win in OT. You saw the Davidson NCAAT game. Those are just three off the top of my head where the situations were very similar.

Was it probably over? Sure, we can agree on that. Definitely over? No way; we're both old enough to have seen plenty of last-minute craziness on the court.

You'd win that bet ... and I'd be one of the rakers.

It was stunning that Pitino didn't foul there. And if he let himself get distracted by some silly confrontation with one of his own players, that's not an excuse, it's an indictment.

Agree. I turned to my buddy and said "wow, the HOFer is saying no mas early". Postgame, Pitino really had a bug up his azz about Soriano's stupid technical in particular and then we all saw the sideline interactions. Something is going on there.

[Hards Alumni]

Agree. I turned to my buddy and said "wow, the HOFer is saying no mas early". Postgame, Pitino really had a bug up his azz about Soriano's stupid technical in particular and then we all saw the sideline interactions. Something is going on there.

What you saw was jealousy.  Rick has a bunch of mercenary players who don't want to play together as a team.  At some point that will change for him, but he is old.  Does he have 4 or 5 more years of coaching to get a group of guys together like Marquette does?  Who would bleed for each other and are incredibly smart players?

Time will tell.

[The Sultan]

You're just doing your "I said it, so even though evidence was presented that refutes what I said, I'll die on my hill" schtick.

Apparently, you also thought the Creighton and Davidson games were over. And you certainly were right about those.

Nope, nope and nope. You're now 0/3.

[BM1090]

The game was probably over.

I wouldn't have cared if Shaka didn't foul in the same situation. I would guess SJU's win probability was less than 1%. It didn't matter.

I was happy they didn't foul, but only because it allowed us to leave 10 minutes earlier.

[DoctorV]

Agree. I turned to my buddy and said "wow, the HOFer is saying no mas early". Postgame, Pitino really had a bug up his azz about Soriano's stupid technical in particular and then we all saw the sideline interactions. Something is going on there.

Maybe he's lost the locker room?!?

He said something to the effect of "you better bet they will listen to me and be ready next game!"

We will see slicky Ricky

[PGsHeroes32]

The game was probably over.

I wouldn't have cared if Shaka didn't foul in the same situation. I would guess SJU's win probability was less than 1%. It didn't matter.

I was happy they didn't foul, but only because it allowed us to leave 10 minutes earlier.

I think the reason they shoulda given it a go is that we were just hitting the bonus.

They extend the game and we are shooting 3, 1 and 1s.

That gives a lot more chance for chaos. And they saw us shooting 1 and 1 at MSG

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

My general rule for "game over" is "what's the most improbable comeback I've ever seen?". Answer for awhile has been TAMU down 10 with 42 seconds left against Northern Iowa.

Ricky P threw in the towel early

[MU82]

Nope, nope and nope. You're now 0/3.

What TAMU said. You're wrong. Enjoy the hill.

[The Sultan]

What TAMU said. You're wrong. Enjoy the hill.

You keeping saying it...but nope. Game was over. Signed, sealed and delivered.