A team I have derided all season as not knowing how to win fended off five "game points" coming from behind in each of the first five overtimes (without ever holding a lead), pushing UConn to the breaking point, then finally breaking them in the sixth OT.
Without Onuaku, Ongenaet, Jackson and Devendorf, Paul Harris and Jonny Flynn carried Kris Joseph and a walk-on named Justin Thomas (with a little help from Andy Rautins) to a victory over the 4th ranked team in the country.
The big key here for SU was the free throw shooting. Flynn and Harris combined to make 29 of 30 from the line.
Rautins (as he usally does) contributing a couple big plays, including the 3-pointer 10 seconds into the 6th overtime to give SU its first lead in any of the OTs.
I still don't have high hopes for this team in the NCAA tournament, and expect them to have tired legs tonight against West Virginia, but they showed me something in this game about their heart and guts.
And even if this season results in another first round flameout (like the one after Gerry McNamamara's amazing Big East run in 2006), this game will go down as one of the most memorable in SU history.
And to think, it almost didn't happen. If the timekeeper starts the clock .2 of a second later, Devendorf wins the game with a 3 at the buzzer. In regulation.
Did you watch the MAAC final? I know you didn't like Siena last year but what do you think this year? After pulling off the upset victory over Vandy they're a year more experienced and have some confidence that they can do some damage in this tourny.
ReplyDeleteThe team didn't lose anyone significant from this year to last and many key players are much improved over last year. I like them to win in the first round again and then probably get trounced in their 2nd consecutive bid for a Sweet 16.