Seth wasn't open, he had a defender ahead of him, and he jacked up a layup around the defender that had little chance of dropping. Not only that but he was so far out in front that nobody had a chance at an offensive rebound. And it was closer to 20 seconds left.

I'd disagree a bit. Seth did have a fairly open layup but it was still an ill-advised shot (and a heck of a block by #25 for UAB). And since I was doing the play by play, I should recall for sure how much time was left when he shot. I thought it was closer to 12 seconds when UAB got the block and rebound.

Rice played very well down the stretch save for two critical errors (Seth's shot attempt and the final play). We made a bunch of big shots down the stretch. The refs did not help Rice one bit with their uneven calls (and #13 was traveling most of the night but never got called for it). I did question Braun's substitution pattern a bit but he also did some smart things (like finally putting Gearheart on the bench to begin the game - he seems more effective coming off the bench). The men haven't given up - and I'm not sure we can say that about the women.

That said, it's probably Dead Man Walking for Coach Braun. I just hope the AD has a quick plan to set in motion because a decisive and solid move will keep most of our players on campus. And there is some hope for the men's program. Obi, Jackson, Guercy and Washington is a pretty solid nucleus.

One thing I miss from the old days is the crowd putting pressure on the refs. There are very few people there, and they don't protest bad calls. It makes a difference.

4th 20+ loss season under Braun.

I guess we don't get a lot of practice protecting leads close and late

From where we sit it looked like Seth had a path to the basket but the UAB player came quickly from somewhat behind so I am not sure if Seth really saw him or not. In any event the better play would have been to kick it out and get fouled.

On the last play the big problem was letting the ball get into their leading scorer along the baseline. He as able to bull his way to the basket (I thought he might shoot sooner in case there needed to be a tip back) and the ball rolled several times around before falling in. Force them to throw it outside and take your chances with a team that wasn't shooting well from outside.

In the end shooting only 9 FTs (making 6) vs UAB shooting 23 (making18) was a huge factor. I'm sorry but I have a hard time with that type of advantage in a game that was this close and with us shooting poorly from 3. Obviously we made more shots in close than normal and yet couldn't get any calls.

The second chance points 14-2 in favor of UAB was a killer as well.

This season has been really tough to get enough enthusiasm to head up the road each home game and attend. Last year had a US vs THEM feeling and watching Tamir put the club on his back made it more interesting. This season was too much of "seen it all before" and even though the team has played a large number of games close (within 5) most nights it didn't seem that close.

(02-27-2014 09:11 PM)texowl2 Wrote:  Wow-these bozos beat UNC?

Yes

(02-27-2014 10:56 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  One thing I miss from the old days is the crowd putting pressure on the refs. There are very few people there, and they don't protest bad calls. It makes a difference.

Todd smith one time said I was doing a great job hollering at the refs. My heart has just not been in this season or last though I (and 75 others or so) still go to most games.

(02-27-2014 10:15 PM)Houston Owl Wrote:  It's difficult to comment on a game when you don't see it.

Rice had possession with 22 second left on the UAB baseline. UAB attempted to foul on the throw in, but they missed. A long pass to Seth left him open ten feet from the basket. He tried to score and UAB player atacked just enough to make him miss the layup. (There easily could have been a foul called on the play)

This play wasn't on Braun. Whether or not the attempt was ill-advised can be debated, but in no way was this Braun's fault. He put the team in position to win...sometimes you have to make one more play than the other team. (By the way, Seth had a great game and this is not a criticism of him at all).

Thanks for perspective on that. It was very hard for me to understand the play over the radio, and that much moreso considering the context of the game at the time.

(02-27-2014 10:34 PM)At Ease Wrote:  From the stats, looks like Obi and Jackson had the best production... and both played fewer minutes because of foul trouble. Maybe I'm completely wrong, but I hate when we end up losing more minutes from important players by sitting them ourselves, than if they had just been allowed to foul out.

I concur completely. Of course, the last time I made a comment like this, I asked the rhetorical question "I wonder how long it's been since Braun allowed someone to foul out". When I looked at the box score, it turns out that Gearhart had fouled out that very game.

During one of the last games I went to, someone in the student section was hollering at the refs for a questionable call. RUPD got sic'd on him.

I found the last few seconds of the game very interesting. On the final play of the game, UAB calls time-out and then after the time-out lines up for the throw-in with Frazier set to make the pass. Rice calls time-out and coming out of that time-out, UAB sets another player to make the throw-in and they naturally pass it to Frazier since he is by far their best player/scorer.

I wonder the propriety of Rice's time-out. On the one hand, you take away UAB's "preferred" play...on the other hand, if they anticipate that Rice will call time out, then that may not be their "preferred" play.

Just an interesting situation. The bottom line is, I guess, to win the game, you have to make more plays than the other team.

Hmm... I thought the radio announcers said that UAB took a second timeout. On the one hand, having Frazier lined up to take the pass, I'm sure that wasn't the play Rice expected. On the other, you may tell them don't call a timeout if he's the one playing the ball in...

Video taken from the main C-USA board of the final play here: http://instagram.com/p/k8dl9ZsrP4/#

Looks to me Washington (I think?) did not do a great job sealing the player to the baseline

(02-27-2014 10:56 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  One thing I miss from the old days is the crowd putting pressure on the refs. There are very few people there, and they don't protest bad calls. It makes a difference.

Student section needs to be on the sides of the court.. not in the end zone like the blue curtain of death.

If needed, move the students behind the Rice bench since it is against conference rules for them to behind the visitors bench.


Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

Yeah I think it was UAB's timeout there the first time (we called another one after that). I briefly saw Frazier after the game and asked him why he was in-bounding the ball. He said it was supposed to be a bench press play (or something close to that) where he was going to get the ball right back after in-bounding it. But he was happy they changed the play after the timeout.

I haven't seen the video but it wouldn't surprise me if Jackson's defense wasn't great. But you're going to get that with freshmen. He played really well besides that and his game has improved a ton since the beginning of the season. I just wish he'd shoot more (and Ramljak a lot less).

(02-28-2014 11:03 AM)Houston Owl Wrote:  I found the last few seconds of the game very interesting. On the final play of the game, UAB calls time-out and then after the time-out lines up for the throw-in with Frazier set to make the pass. Rice calls time-out and coming out of that time-out, UAB sets another player to make the throw-in and they naturally pass it to Frazier since he is by far their best player/scorer.

I wonder the propriety of Rice's time-out. On the one hand, you take away UAB's "preferred" play...on the other hand, if they anticipate that Rice will call time out, then that may not be their "preferred" play.

Just an interesting situation. The bottom line is, I guess, to win the game, you have to make more plays than the other team.

The first TO called by UAB was their last. I was hoping we could get them with a 5 second count on the second inbound try since they had no TO's left.

And agree about the baseline defense on the second inbound try.

According to the play by play. There were three timeouts back to back at the three seconds. A full by UAB, a 30 sec by Rice and then a 30 sec by UAB

Actually in the last minute a total of 5 timeouts were taken

(02-28-2014 11:45 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Yeah I think it was UAB's timeout there the first time (we called another one after that). I briefly saw Frazier after the game and asked him why he was in-bounding the ball. He said it was supposed to be a bench press play (or something close to that) where he was going to get the ball right back after in-bounding it. But he was happy they changed the play after the timeout.

I haven't seen the video but it wouldn't surprise me if Jackson's defense wasn't great. But you're going to get that with freshmen. He played really well besides that and his game has improved a ton since the beginning of the season. I just wish he'd shoot more (and Ramljak a lot less).

Of the guards, Jackson is the most impressive to me..

But he's still shooting less than 33% from the field, and only 25% from 3-point range. Maybe that's improving as the season goes on, but AFAICT Austin's still our best offensive weapon behind Obi.