Did Nevada slow the game down? The narrative is 100% wrong.
At the 7:40 mark when Nevada went up by 17, until the 2:44 mark where we tied it, here are their possessions:
First, Holmes makes 1 of 2 FT's to cut it to 16.
1. Token pressure followed by Pope, a 20% 3pt shooter, missing a corner 3 with 11 on the shot clock. Brea makes a 3 to cut it to 13.
2. Now we turn up the pressure and get a backcourt turnover, so no taking the air out of the ball here. Holmes runner across the lane, cut it to 11.
3. Crossed half court with 21 on the shot clock due to heavy pressure, ran Lucas off multiple baseline screens, had a wide open 3 with 10 on the shot clock but Nevada called for a moving screen. We score again and are down 9 at this point.
4. Could not inbound the ball due to UD pressure. Had to call a TO. After the TO, crossed half court with 21 on the shot clock again. Ran their offense normally and shot with 3 on the shot clock, a missed 3 from the corner. Brea makes a 3, we're down 6.
Sidebar: when it's a 6 point game with 4:25 left, how can a team "take the air out of the ball"???
5. Nevada crosses half court with 23 on the shot clock but Cheeks runs down the Nevada guard from behind and pokes it loose. A scrum ensues, Nevada take a timeout in the scrum. 18 on the shot clock. Nevada inbounds the ball and they give it right back to Blackshear, who goes straight into a high screen to get Blackshear isolated against Holmes for a drive. Blackshear goes straight to the hole and dribbles it out of bounds with 7 on the shot clock. Santos hits a 3, cuts the lead to 3.
Sidebar #2: when it's a 3 point game with 3:40 left, how can a team "take the air out of the ball"???
6. Santos back court foul so Nevada crosses half court with 28 on the shot clock on the inbound. Nevada runs their offense and shoots a 3 with 11 on the shot clock. Nevada gets the rebound and Cheeks pokes the ball away with 14 on the reset shot clock. Blackshear takes a desperation 3 with 3 on the shot clock.
This is the possession all the talking heads remember. But at this point it's a 3 point game!!! Nevada isn't milking the clock, there's 2:50 left in the game!!!
Brea hits a transition 3 and the game is now tied.
UD cut the lead from 17 points to 3 points in only 5 possessions for Nevada, and they shot with 11, 10 (technically a TO), 3, and 7 seconds on the shot clock (plus a backcourt TO).
Kill this false narrative.
First, Holmes makes 1 of 2 FT's to cut it to 16.
1. Token pressure followed by Pope, a 20% 3pt shooter, missing a corner 3 with 11 on the shot clock. Brea makes a 3 to cut it to 13.
2. Now we turn up the pressure and get a backcourt turnover, so no taking the air out of the ball here. Holmes runner across the lane, cut it to 11.
3. Crossed half court with 21 on the shot clock due to heavy pressure, ran Lucas off multiple baseline screens, had a wide open 3 with 10 on the shot clock but Nevada called for a moving screen. We score again and are down 9 at this point.
4. Could not inbound the ball due to UD pressure. Had to call a TO. After the TO, crossed half court with 21 on the shot clock again. Ran their offense normally and shot with 3 on the shot clock, a missed 3 from the corner. Brea makes a 3, we're down 6.
Sidebar: when it's a 6 point game with 4:25 left, how can a team "take the air out of the ball"???
5. Nevada crosses half court with 23 on the shot clock but Cheeks runs down the Nevada guard from behind and pokes it loose. A scrum ensues, Nevada take a timeout in the scrum. 18 on the shot clock. Nevada inbounds the ball and they give it right back to Blackshear, who goes straight into a high screen to get Blackshear isolated against Holmes for a drive. Blackshear goes straight to the hole and dribbles it out of bounds with 7 on the shot clock. Santos hits a 3, cuts the lead to 3.
Sidebar #2: when it's a 3 point game with 3:40 left, how can a team "take the air out of the ball"???
6. Santos back court foul so Nevada crosses half court with 28 on the shot clock on the inbound. Nevada runs their offense and shoots a 3 with 11 on the shot clock. Nevada gets the rebound and Cheeks pokes the ball away with 14 on the reset shot clock. Blackshear takes a desperation 3 with 3 on the shot clock.
This is the possession all the talking heads remember. But at this point it's a 3 point game!!! Nevada isn't milking the clock, there's 2:50 left in the game!!!
Brea hits a transition 3 and the game is now tied.
UD cut the lead from 17 points to 3 points in only 5 possessions for Nevada, and they shot with 11, 10 (technically a TO), 3, and 7 seconds on the shot clock (plus a backcourt TO).
Kill this false narrative.