A detailed look at Alabama's Moral Victory and MN's "collapse"

Does it matter? No. But I was interested to go back and look at it in detail.

We started playing "5 v 3" at the 10:30 mark. We play about four minutes of inspired ball and build the lead to 15. Dupree makes a jumper at 6:37 and we go up 15.

We are rolling. Things are good. Then the wheels come off at the 6:17 mark and we finally regrouped at 1:29 mark. We played five minutes of lazy basketball while AL played lights out. Here is the "bad" five minute stretch.

6:37 Dupree McBrayer made Jumper. Assisted by Jamir Harris. 79 - 64

Then this (Bad vs. Good):

6:17 Collin Sexton made Three Point Jumper. 79 - 67
6:03 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 79 - 67
6:03 Collin Sexton Defensive Rebound. 79 - 67
5:37 Riley Norris made Jumper. 79 - 69
5:11 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 79 - 69
5:11 Amir Coffey Offensive Rebound. 79 - 69
4:50 Isaiah Washington made Layup. Assisted by Dupree McBrayer. 81 - 69
4:20 Collin Sexton made Three Point Jumper. 81 - 72
3:59 Jamir Harris missed Three Point Jumper. 81 - 72
3:59 Riley Norris Defensive Rebound. 81 - 72
3:48 Foul on Jordan Murphy. 81 - 72
3:48 Riley Norris made Free Throw. 81 - 73
3:48 Riley Norris missed Free Throw. 81 - 73
3:48 Reggie Lynch Defensive Rebound. 81 - 73
3:25 Isaiah Washington made Jumper. 83 - 73
3:11 Collin Sexton made Three Point Jumper. 83 - 76
2:46 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 83 - 76
2:46 Galin Smith Defensive Rebound. 83 - 76
2:43 Foul on Michael Hurt. 83 - 76
2:43 Galin Smith made Free Throw. 83 - 77
2:43 Galin Smith made Free Throw. 83 - 78
2:28 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 83 - 78
2:28 Alabama Defensive Rebound. 83 - 78
2:11 Collin Sexton missed Three Point Jumper. 83 - 78
2:11 Reggie Lynch Defensive Rebound. 83 - 78
1:46 Amir Coffey missed Jumper. 83 - 78
1:46 Collin Sexton Defensive Rebound. 83 - 78
1:39 Collin Sexton made Layup. 83 - 80
1:29 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 83 - 80
1:29 Collin Sexton Defensive Rebound. 83 - 80


Shooting summary during the awful five minute-stretch:

Minnesota
Washington 2/7 from the field
Harris: 0/1
Coffey: 0/1
Total: 2/9

Alabama
5/6 from the field. 3/4 from 3
4/4 from the line
17 points on 5/6 shooting and 4/4 FT, one missed 3PT attempt

AL attempted to shoot the ball through the hoop 10 times during this stretch (FG and FT) and the ball went through the hoop 9 of those times - while being double- and triple-teamed at times.

Net, net, after playing for 4-5 minutes of "5 v 3" ball, we build a lead and get cocky. Then Alabama starts hitting EVERYTHING while we can't buy an easy jumper. It was the worst case scenario. We were out-scored, out-rebounded, out-hustled and out-coached. And during this five minute stretch, we played playground ball and let Washington shoot seven times. Alabama played inspired ball during this five minute period and shot 83% (5/6 from field, 3/4 from 3-point land) from the field and 100% from the line.

BarnBoy said:

Does it matter? No. But I was interested to go back and look at it in detail.

We started playing "5 v 3" at the 10:30 mark. We play about four minutes of inspired ball and build the lead to 15. Dupree makes a jumper at 6:37 and we go up 15.

We are rolling. Things are good. Then the wheels come off at the 6:17 mark and we finally regrouped at 1:29 mark. We played five minutes of lazy basketball while AL played lights out. Here is the "bad" five minute stretch.

6:37 Dupree McBrayer made Jumper. Assisted by Jamir Harris. 79 - 64

Then this (Bad vs. Good):

6:17 Collin Sexton made Three Point Jumper. 79 - 67
6:03 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 79 - 67
6:03 Collin Sexton Defensive Rebound. 79 - 67
5:37 Riley Norris made Jumper. 79 - 69
5:11 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 79 - 69
5:11 Amir Coffey Offensive Rebound. 79 - 69
4:50 Isaiah Washington made Layup. Assisted by Dupree McBrayer. 81 - 69
4:20 Collin Sexton made Three Point Jumper. 81 - 72
3:59 Jamir Harris missed Three Point Jumper. 81 - 72
3:59 Riley Norris Defensive Rebound. 81 - 72
3:48 Foul on Jordan Murphy. 81 - 72
3:48 Riley Norris made Free Throw. 81 - 73
3:48 Riley Norris missed Free Throw. 81 - 73
3:48 Reggie Lynch Defensive Rebound. 81 - 73
3:25 Isaiah Washington made Jumper. 83 - 73
3:11 Collin Sexton made Three Point Jumper. 83 - 76
2:46 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 83 - 76
2:46 Galin Smith Defensive Rebound. 83 - 76
2:43 Foul on Michael Hurt. 83 - 76
2:43 Galin Smith made Free Throw. 83 - 77
2:43 Galin Smith made Free Throw. 83 - 78
2:28 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 83 - 78
2:28 Alabama Defensive Rebound. 83 - 78
2:11 Collin Sexton missed Three Point Jumper. 83 - 78
2:11 Reggie Lynch Defensive Rebound. 83 - 78
1:46 Amir Coffey missed Jumper. 83 - 78
1:46 Collin Sexton Defensive Rebound. 83 - 78
1:39 Collin Sexton made Layup. 83 - 80
1:29 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 83 - 80
1:29 Collin Sexton Defensive Rebound. 83 - 80


Shooting summary during the awful five minute-stretch:

Minnesota
Washington 2/7 from the field
Harris: 0/1
Coffey: 0/1
Total: 2/9

Alabama
5/6 from the field. 3/4 from 3
4/4 from the line
17 points on 5/6 shooting and 4/4 FT, one missed 3PT attempt

AL attempted to shoot the ball through the hoop 10 times during this stretch (FG and FT) and the ball went through the hoop 9 of those times - while being double- and triple-teamed at times.

Net, net, after playing for 4-5 minutes of "5 v 3" ball, we build a lead and get cocky. Then Alabama starts hitting EVERYTHING while we can't buy an easy jumper. It was the worst case scenario. We were out-rebounded, out-hustled. And during this five minute stretch, we played playground ball and let Washington shoot seven times. Alabama played inspired ball during this five minute period and shot 83% (5/6 from field, 3/4 from 3-point land) from the field and 100% from the line.

Click to expand...

I think Pitino was trying to do the "nice" thing and not run up the score. I wish he would have called a time out and given them some direction about which shots to take and not to take. I would have liked to see them run down the clock but still be aggressive with the actual shot they were taking. Way too many 15-foot jump shots taken during that time. Might as well just take 3's. I would have preferred they drive the basket a little. They weren't going to get fouled.

I am unbelievably tired of hearing about this to be honest. Did we win the game? yes. does it matter that we played 3v5 basketball? no. Is the national media making a big deal of this? yes. does it matter? no.

I am more interested in talking about our team playing #11 miami on the 29th.

This year is going to be amazing.

Then don't f-ing click on the post. It was a once-in-a-lifetime strange occurrence. Chill out.

Yeah, I don't think anyone who watched the whole game buys into the "Alabama is better than Minnesota 3 on 5!" ultra-hot take. It was a fluky situation followed up by a fluky shooting streak and a team half-trying to not be jerks. The only part that remotely concerns me in that sequence is Isaiah's growing proclivity for taking inefficient long 2s.

Props to Sexton and the Bama guys remaining for working their tails off, but the only meaningful film came from the first 30 minutes which the Gophers won handily.

Patino seemed to give Isaiah a complete green light to start shooting -- wonder if that had something to do with his goal of recruiting from the NY area? The games in hand, so why not let Washington try to shine.

BarnBoy said:

Does it matter? No. But I was interested to go back and look at it in detail.

We started playing "5 v 3" at the 10:30 mark. We play about four minutes of inspired ball and build the lead to 15. Dupree makes a jumper at 6:37 and we go up 15.

We are rolling. Things are good. Then the wheels come off at the 6:17 mark and we finally regrouped at 1:29 mark. We played five minutes of lazy basketball while AL played lights out. Here is the "bad" five minute stretch.

6:37 Dupree McBrayer made Jumper. Assisted by Jamir Harris. 79 - 64

Then this (Bad vs. Good):

6:17 Collin Sexton made Three Point Jumper. 79 - 67
6:03 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 79 - 67
6:03 Collin Sexton Defensive Rebound. 79 - 67
5:37 Riley Norris made Jumper. 79 - 69
5:11 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 79 - 69
5:11 Amir Coffey Offensive Rebound. 79 - 69
4:50 Isaiah Washington made Layup. Assisted by Dupree McBrayer. 81 - 69
4:20 Collin Sexton made Three Point Jumper. 81 - 72
3:59 Jamir Harris missed Three Point Jumper. 81 - 72
3:59 Riley Norris Defensive Rebound. 81 - 72
3:48 Foul on Jordan Murphy. 81 - 72
3:48 Riley Norris made Free Throw. 81 - 73
3:48 Riley Norris missed Free Throw. 81 - 73
3:48 Reggie Lynch Defensive Rebound. 81 - 73
3:25 Isaiah Washington made Jumper. 83 - 73
3:11 Collin Sexton made Three Point Jumper. 83 - 76
2:46 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 83 - 76
2:46 Galin Smith Defensive Rebound. 83 - 76
2:43 Foul on Michael Hurt. 83 - 76
2:43 Galin Smith made Free Throw. 83 - 77
2:43 Galin Smith made Free Throw. 83 - 78
2:28 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 83 - 78
2:28 Alabama Defensive Rebound. 83 - 78
2:11 Collin Sexton missed Three Point Jumper. 83 - 78
2:11 Reggie Lynch Defensive Rebound. 83 - 78
1:46 Amir Coffey missed Jumper. 83 - 78
1:46 Collin Sexton Defensive Rebound. 83 - 78
1:39 Collin Sexton made Layup. 83 - 80
1:29 Isaiah Washington missed Jumper. 83 - 80
1:29 Collin Sexton Defensive Rebound. 83 - 80


Shooting summary during the awful five minute-stretch:

Minnesota
Washington 2/7 from the field
Harris: 0/1
Coffey: 0/1
Total: 2/9

Alabama
5/6 from the field. 3/4 from 3
4/4 from the line
17 points on 5/6 shooting and 4/4 FT, one missed 3PT attempt

AL attempted to shoot the ball through the hoop 10 times during this stretch (FG and FT) and the ball went through the hoop 9 of those times - while being double- and triple-teamed at times.

Net, net, after playing for 4-5 minutes of "5 v 3" ball, we build a lead and get cocky. Then Alabama starts hitting EVERYTHING while we can't buy an easy jumper. It was the worst case scenario. We were out-scored, out-rebounded, out-hustled and out-coached. And during this five minute stretch, we played playground ball and let Washington shoot seven times. Alabama played inspired ball during this five minute period and shot 83% (5/6 from field, 3/4 from 3-point land) from the field and 100% from the line.

Click to expand...

So I watched this debacle for the second time this morning after seeing this post and had a few thoughts. The biggest thing that stood out to me was that Isaiah Washington was really, really bad in the last 10 minutes of the game. His defense was lackadaisical and that is being very kind, and he didn't create much for his teammates. I will be generous and say he took 5 really bad shots during this stretch, but he also made a couple of mid range 2's that were ill advised. The one positive I can say for Washington is that when Alabama had the ball for one possession with the Gophers up just 3, he played his best defensive possession of the half on Sexton and forced a tough mid range jumper which he missed. I am going to switch this up and number the rest of my thoughts so this doesn't become just a wall of text.

1. Lack of Basketball IQ from the players and adjustments from the staff was disappointing, Defense: There were so many things that could have been done on both ends of the floor that were not. If you go back and watch Jordan Murphy on the defensive end in his first stint, he's just standing deep in the lane but not reacting to anything. He's not a deterrent and he's not in a position to threaten any passes. I don't know which of these stats is more alarming: a. The Gophers didn't force a single turnover playing 5 on 3 basketball in 11 minutes of game action b. The Gophers gave up 30 points in 11 minutes of game action to a team playing with 3 players (that's well over 100 points over a 40 min game) c. The Gophers allowed scores on 7 straight possessions with a 5 on 3 advantage. The Gophers could literally trap the ball and have a rover jumping passing lanes/watching the ball handler and attempting to get steals or they could have placed guys on both blocks and played man and just had the guys on the blocks take charges if someone tried to drive the lane or they could picked up full court until Alabama literally could not run anymore. They did none of these things except double the ball, but then weirdly not contest 3 point jumpers (Washington and Hurt both guilty on Sexton 3's).

2. Lack of Basketball IQ from the players and adjustments from the staff was disappointing, Offense. Long, and midrange 2's are the worst shots in basketball. The Gophers shot almost exclusively long and mindrange 2's against Alabama's zone when they went on their run. The players should know that dribbling inside the 3 point line to take a 2 point shot when you are wide open from 3 is a bad idea, yet Isaiah did it over and over again and Amir and Dupree each did it at least once each. Then you had the lack of awareness of Jamir Harris who pulled up from about 25 in transition when he had just gotten a wide open feet set 3 from the line the last time down the court. There was not a single attempt to get the ball in to Reggie Lynch or Jordan Murphy on the block. Again, the offense is happening right by the Gophers bench and these mistakes are happening time and time again. Isaiah took a terrible contested mid range shot from the baseline with the Gophers up just 3 and at least 25 seconds left on the shot clock. In general, the Gophers did not pass the ball around as much during this 5 on 3 period as it seemed like they did during real time. Strangely, I don't believe we had Reggie and Jordan in together for any of the 5 on 3 portions of this game. In hindsight, I would have pulled Isaiah and kept Jamir in the game with Dupree, Reggie, Jordan, and Amir.

3. Amir has a little of his dad in him: He's not built like Richard, but he came from the complete other side of the floor to have Dupree's back.

4. The referees really did the Gophers no favors when Alabama was shorthanded: There were a minimum of 3 totally ridiculous calls on the Gophers that resulted in free throws for the Tide during this stretch starting with a "blocking" foul on Jordan Murphy where Sexton had nowhere to go and initiated contact with his forearm.

5. The Gophers were dominating the 5 on 5 portion of this game: Alabama had the 6 point possession thanks to making 3 out of the 4 technical ft's and the 3 to cut a 13 point game to 7. The Gophers responded by pushing that lead right back up to 11 despite the created momentum for Alabama. This was a really solid 30 minutes from the team that is going to get overshadowed (probably rightfully so given the uniqueness of the situation and the relative low stakes of a game in November) by an absolutely embarrassing 6 minute span in which nobody on the floor or on the bench took control of things.