From: jb118@prism.gatech.EDU (Jeffrey N. Burch)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.college
Subject: Re: Necessity of a Big Man
Date: 12 Sep 92 14:43:57 GMT
Organization: Georgia Tech Research Institute -- EOL

In article <1992Sep11.203326.19976@random.ccs.northeastern.edu> you write:
>>> Since Grant was making the pass obviously the ball could go to only
>>> Laettner (Hurley's too short to make such a long pass to).  Which is
>>> why Pitino chose to have two guys on Laettner.
>>
>>But there were only 5 players on Kentucky.  Are you suggesting that
>>you leave somebody else unguarded?  If you put a man on the baseline,
>>then you have somebody only in front of Laettner, or behind him.  
>
>No, what I meant was since Pitino chose that option, then one guy
>should be fronting Laettner, not both behind him.  2 on Laettner and
>one on Hill would be asking for trouble.

But this is *exactly* what Pitino called for - blame the players for
not doing what he told them, if you have to blame anybody.

Either Pelphrey and Feldhaus didn't hear his instructions over the 
tremendous noise being generated at the Spectrum, or they misunderstood 
the play.  

>Laettner and Hurley needed to be guarded.  The pass couldn't be made to
>Hurley unless he was open, therefore that person might be able to help
>out or rotate (as I remember it there wasn't enough time on the clock
>for Duke to pass).  As I see it, someone bothering Grants, someone fronting
>Laettner, and someone guarding Hurley loosely.
>
>But 2 shorter guys standing around behind Laettner was stupid.

Kentucky had no one taller than 6'9" still left in the game (6'9"
Timberlake and 6'8" Mashburn had fouled out).  Pitino put 6'9"
Andre Riddick under the basket to prevent an alley oop pass, 
which I think was a reasonable defensive move.  Riddick was only
a freshman and although he blocked a fair amount, he also fouled
a lot, and Laettner seemed to be hitting everything that day. 
Better to have your experienced people guarding Christian.

Pelphrey and Feldhaus together could've stopped Laettner if they'd
done what Pitino wanted.

>>in any case, you can't have it both ways.  I don't fault Pitino's
>>coaching for the loss, either.
>
>I do, but only for those last few seconds, the rest of the game was
>excellent.

Pitino's only fault might have been not to recruit taller players,
but it's hard to blame him for that, considering the mess he inherited.
His first couple of years, he was probably lucky to recruit anyone at
all (and he ended up getting Mashburn which isn't too shabby).

>>> No I dont think you can blame Kentucky's lack of a "true college center" 
>>> for their 1 point loss to Duke in overtime.
>>
>>Think Laettner would have been 10-10 from the field if they had
>>such a player?  Or sent to the line as often?  Or even still in the
>>game?  Duke scored over 100 points before Laettner's shot, you know...
>
>Depends on who the center is, are we talking about David Robinson or
>are we talking about Mark Eaton.  If Mr Robinson, Laettner would have
>been O-10, assuming that the coach let David go out there.  If we are
>talking about Eaton then Laettner could have been 10-10.

Kentucky *has* been trying to recruit a "true college center" for the
last several years, without success.  They haven't had a classical
center since LeRon Ellis, and he skipped out on them during the 
probation.  It looks like Rick has had more success recently, though - 
he recruited Walter McCarty and Rodney Dent this year, and he is still
in the race for a couple of other 6'10"-11" guys.

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^  Georgia Tech Research Institute                                    ^ 
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