I was totally expecting ASU to beat us by 20, and when ASU went up by 17 late, I like announcer Don McLean, thought the game over. But our guys showed great heart, perserverance, and poise down the stretch. Clearly, Keefe was player of the game with Jones very close behind him.
ASU tied our 2012-13 team for 15 three pointers in the tourney. I looked that game up and interestingly, we played ASU and lost by 1 point in OT.
Kudos to our guys for making their FTs!!!!! And what a difference they made (12-14, 86%). Had we missed 2 more, we lose. The guys who made all their FTs (Keefe, Angel, Jones) have been our most dependable. Ingram again only 50%. OTOH, ASU burned themselves by missing FTs. They were 3-7, 43%, but worse they missed two front ends of 1 and 1 late. Had they made those FTs, they close out the game. Instead, the misses opened the door for us AND importantly gave our guys hope and momentum to continue our huge late run and also discouraged ASU - put pressure on ASU. Also, making our FTs gave our D time to set up or press instead of ASU speeding things up.
Lots of issues with our 3 pt. defense, but a W is a W, and the great play by our guys overall renders that moot. I would like to see the other guys play with the same level of intensity, hustle, and effort as Keefe and Jones. Most of our guys play hard, but Keefe and Jones take it up another level.
ASU tied our 2012-13 team for 15 three pointers in the tourney. I looked that game up and interestingly, we played ASU and lost by 1 point in OT.
Kudos to our guys for making their FTs!!!!! And what a difference they made (12-14, 86%). Had we missed 2 more, we lose. The guys who made all their FTs (Keefe, Angel, Jones) have been our most dependable. Ingram again only 50%. OTOH, ASU burned themselves by missing FTs. They were 3-7, 43%, but worse they missed two front ends of 1 and 1 late. Had they made those FTs, they close out the game. Instead, the misses opened the door for us AND importantly gave our guys hope and momentum to continue our huge late run and also discouraged ASU - put pressure on ASU. Also, making our FTs gave our D time to set up or press instead of ASU speeding things up.
Lots of issues with our 3 pt. defense, but a W is a W, and the great play by our guys overall renders that moot. I would like to see the other guys play with the same level of intensity, hustle, and effort as Keefe and Jones. Most of our guys play hard, but Keefe and Jones take it up another level.
