Ben Burns’ Bad Beats
David Payne writes for Ben Burns.
ESPN analysts Jay Bilas and Bob Knight were singing the praises of Washington’s Jon Brockman Saturday on “College Gameday.”
Anyone who had the Huskies Thursday against USC probably isn’t as impressed with Brockman.
An All-Pac-10 candidate, Brockman went 0-for-8 against the Trojans, including a bloopers moment that Washington backers weren’t laughing about.
Favored by seven, the Huskies assumed control of a back-and-forth game in the second half. They led by 13 with one minute to play.
USC nipped at the lead, cutting to eight with 33 seconds left, but the outcome was certainly never in doubt.
Washington was shredding the Trojans’ desperate press, and when Brockman found himself wide open behind the defense, the Huskies appeared poised to cover the seven points.
But, instead of throwing down an uncontested and backbreaking dunk, Brockman tiptoed toward an awkward looking lay-up. It was ugly, fat guy at the Y ugly.
And, of course, it rattled off, providing USC with just enough to hope to keep competing.
Memo to Brockman: You’re 6-7; Dunk the basketball.
The Trojans made just enough plays down the stretch, including a three-pointer by Daniel Hackett with 20 seconds left, to pull out a cover. Final score: 78-73.
Memo to Florida: Get back on defense
It was moment usually reserved for March Madness. We’ll call it January Jubilation, unless you had Florida plus one at South Carolina Wednesday.
Leading by one with 3.3 seconds left, Florida’s Chandler Parsons stepped to the foul line for a one-and-one. Parsons, a 60-percent free throw shooter, missed the front end, but so what.
As long as South Carolina doesn’t grab the rebound, heave a perfect bullet pass to a streaking player for a go-ahead lay-up, the Gators are going to win the game.
South Carolina’s Mike Holmes grabbed the rebound, heaved a perfect bullet pass to a streaking Zam Fredrick, who took one dribble and hit a lay-up as time expired.
Florida coach Billy Donovan insisted his team was lined up correctly. Huh?
Why even have your players lined up for the free throw line? Why not put them all back at half court?
If the Gators were lined up on the paint to try jam any outlet passer, they certainly didn’t do a very good job of it.
Regardless, Gators backers certainly weren’t too fond of the strategy.
Condolences to: Those who had George Washington +4.5 Saturday against Rhode Island. GW surrendered a seven-point halftime lead and end up losing 89-84 in double overtime … To anyone who has Michael Redd on their fantasy team. The Bucks’ leading scorer is out for the season after tearing his ACL and MCL.
Bettors that took Milwaukee to win more than 30.5 games should be in good shape, even without Redd. Heading into Monday night’s game against Minnesota, the Bucks already have 22 wins.
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