BC lost another heartbreaker to Georgia Tech Thursday. There were a dozen turning points that led to the loss, but the overriding issue (for me) is Steve Donahue's micromanaging of the game. We were up five with three minutes left. Statistically the game is in BC's favor at that point. Get a few more points, play conservative D and you win. But that's not what happened. Instead we worked the clock to our own detriment. We forced shots over and over again as time was running out. Why is this happening with a veteran team? Why is this happening when we have a player like Hanlan who can score on nearly anyone in the ACC? How did we go up with seconds left? We put the ball in the hands of our best player and let him do his thing. Sometimes it is that simple. ...And if you are going to call a timeout with seconds left, be sure to put in a solid defensive plan.
This is all over anyway. Donahue is just making it easier for Bates to fire him. There will be little backlash. How can there be? We have a terrible record and the worst defense in the conference. I feel for Donahue. With Spaz, I felt he never believed in the team or did what it took to win. Donahue works his ass off every game. That's why it is so frustrating. He is surprised every time his moves don't work. Fool me once...
Friday I will start the profiles of our potential new coaches.
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16 comments:
The closing minutes were excruciating to watch. Donahue's micromanagement of the offense was just incredible. I don't know how Rahon and Hanlan resist the urge to pass the ball to Donahue and tell him to run point.
How we come out of a timeout with 35 seconds to play in a one-point game and end the possession with Rahon yet again driving to the basket (only to get rejected, yet again) while everyone else stands around watching is just so predictable and ... horrible.
It's not a question of Donahue's work ethic; he's clearly trying to do what he thinks is right. The issue is competence.
ATL,
Your comments are contradictory. You say Donahue over-thinks and doesn't let Hanlan take over. In fact Donahue gave Hanlan the ball and he hit the go ahead basket with seconds to go in the 2nd half. GT then hit a buzzer beater with a foul. Even if the GT player missed the three the refs were giving GT the game with the foul(3 shots). Same thing happend at the end of regulation against ND.
You aren't watching the games . . . or at least not close enough to call for someone's job.
Agree Donahue is gone but not your analysis.
the micromanagement has been a problem and has gotten to comical levels this season. seriously, i wonder what would happen if one game he just stopped coaching and let these guys play. its a shame because Hanlan's a very talented player and there are other decent players. let them go out there and compete instead of literally trying to coach every play.
Donahue should give up whistling for lent.
Was at the game and agree with ATL. The last three minutes were ridiculous, plus the other numerous wasted possessions of just playing catch around the perimeter. And I still don't understand why we call time out to sit the defense...please, really? Why give GaTech the chance to create a play? Such a sad season...feel bad for the kids. They do play with hustle.
Knucklehead, Donahue over thought it by calling a timeout and letting GT set up a play. When you have the 324 best defense in the country, you're going to give any middling offense more of an advantage with that TO than you give you're own guys.
Congenital wisdom is that you let it play out with GT scrambling with no plan in place.
The problem was not letting Hanlon take over for the last three minutes and the fact that he got the ball in the end doesn't absolve Donahue of that sin.
Its too bad it didn't work out for Donahue - its not nice to see anyone fail. Its also too bad we gave him a 6 year contract. This is just plain ugly.
Knucklehead:
The TO was part of the micromanaging, but the last three minutes were all part of the problem. Wasteful possession after wasteful possession. It was ONLY on the last play when he just let Hanlan go that things worked. Sometimes you need to now whistle and let your best players play.
ATL nails it regarding onahue's micromanaging.
Just count how many times he whistles to get their attention per minute. *Warning only do it for a couple of minutes at a time or else you'll go insane*
He's just a bad coach. On the verge of putting up 2 of the worst seasons in his 4 years at BC, good job good effort.
http://www.nj.com/college-basketball/index.ssf/2013/12/bobby_hurley_beginning_to_make_his_mark_in_first_year_as_head_coach_at_buffalo.html
Just when you think things couldn't possibly get worse and that you have seen everything....that happens. Terrible team and a joke of a coach. The most infuriating thing is fouling on that last shot. Did they learn nothing from the ND game?! And it was coming out of a timeout! What the heck goes on in those huddles?
Bravesbill, I think Donahue is Whistling Dixie in the huddle!
looking forward to articles on coaching candidates. Something to keep me interested in BC hoops in 2014
I agree Hanlon taking it to the hoop is our best option,but it's still not a good. To free him up Anderson comes up high to screen which basically takes him out of the play. If we had a weak side finisher for Hanlon to dish to we might have something to work w/ but we don't. When u play a lineup 1,2,2,3,3.5 it's pretty much impossible to win. The to w/ 3.4 to go? To do what set up a defense for the biggest bunch of matadors this side of Spain!
The only thing that bugs me more than the whistling is this I feel bad for Donahue business. The guy has taken a pretty good college hoop program and will leave it in shambles. He can go back to Cornell, where he belongs, a rich man thanks to that fool Gene. Why should anyone feel sorry for him.
Meanwhile tonight, Cornell beat Dartmouth 70-67 to climb to 2-19 while Dartmouth fell to 9-12. I guess that Cornell retrograded after Coach D moved on.
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