Anatomy of a Comeback

How Jim Boeheim's prevent offense cost Xavier an upset over Ohio State.

6:59:

Xavier takes 11 point lead.

6:46:

Xavier has a 9 point lead. Dan Bonner says "You don't want to lose your aggressiveness." Xavier kills 32 seconds and turns it over without getting a shot off.

6:08:

A foul and a missed free throw. Dan Bonner says "it's too early to start running time off."

5:30:

Up 7, Xavier kills 30 seconds before Oden commits his fourth foul. Both free throws are made.

4:45:

Up 9, Xavier kills 28 seconds, shoots a 3 that comes within the offense, but it misses.
Dan Bonner says "it's too early to be running time off the shot clock."

4:03:

Up 7, after killing only 14 seconds Xavier makes a layup.

3:33:

Up 9, Xavier kills almost the whole shot clock and Drew Lavender chucks up a horrible 3 as the buzzer sounds.

2:54:

Up 7, Xavier kills 28 seconds and misses a contest layup.

Here's where it bites them. Ohio State hits a 3, steals the inbounds and Lewis makes a layup and gets fouled. Xavier gives up 6 points without touching the ball.

1:35:

Up 1, Xavier kills 21 seconds, Cage gets fouled and makes both.

0:59:

Up 2, Xavier kills 30 seconds, they force it inside and Oden strips it.

0:09:

Oden commits a foul, Cage misses a FT, Xavier has a 3 point lead.

0:02:

Ron Lewis hits a game tying 3. Ohio State wins in overtime.



As you can see, when Xavier killed clock they got bad shots. When they didn't they scored or got fouled. I understand the importance of using the clock, but I say hold until 15 seconds are gone then work an offense. The extra 10 seconds you don't kill each trip don't mean as much as the points you would get. Xavier made one field goal in the last 7 minutes.