WASHINGTON -- In a game with enough calls to make a presidential campaign fundraiser jealous, the 48th and final foul of the night was perhaps the most controversial of them all.
With the score tied at 53-53, Scottie Reynolds’ driving layup was blocked by Jeremiah Rivers in the game’s dying seconds and Jonathan Wallace came out of a ferocious scrum with the loose ball. As he turned to launch a heave at the buzzer, Corey Stokes went out to block him and got just the slightest piece of Wallace’s jersey.
The whistle blew with one tenth of a second left.
Wallace strode to the foul line and calmly sank two free throws to give Georgetown a 55-53 win.
As I watched a replay of the contact, I had a very hard time seeing enough to judge it a foul. Especially with so little time on the clock.
But perhaps a less than palatable game all around deserved just such an ending. This thing was really hard to stomach at times.
Corey Fisher made only one of 16 field goal attempts, Scottie Reynolds made six of 13, Jonathan Wallace made four of 10 and DaJuan Summers made four of 11.
The only players who shot 50 percent or better were Roy Hibbert, Jessie Sapp and Patrick Ewing, Jr., and they shot 3-for-6, 2-for-4 and 2-for-3 respectively.
So the final stats were these.
For Villanova: 14-for-57 from the field (24.6%), including 3-for-23 from 3-point range (13.0%) and 11-for-34 from 2-point range (32.4%), and 22-for-27 from the free throw line (81.5%). Sixteen offensive rebounds, 25 defensive rebounds, seven assists, 11 turnovers, two blocks, five steals and 24 fouls committed.
That adds up to 65 possessions and 0.818 points per possession.
In the second half alone, ‘Nova shot 4-for-31 from the field -- and a nice, round 0-for-13 from beyond the arc.
After Dwayne Anderson’s dunk to open the second half, the Wildcats went 11 minutes and 52 seconds without a field goal.
For Georgetown: 16-for-40 from the field (40.0%), including 7-for-20 from 3-point range (35.0%) and and 9-for-20 from 2-point range (45.0%), and 16-for-24 from the line (66.7%). Four offensive rebounds, 31 defensive rebounds, 11 assists, 18 turnovers, six blocks, six steals and 24 fouls committed.
That adds up to 65 possessions and 0.841 points per possession.
It would have been huge for Villanova to win it, no question. And while I’m sure it won’t make anyone on the Main Line feel good, at least Georgetown really was just as bad.
Comments (10)
Even more than the loss, I am more disheartened at the reality that it looks like Malcom Grant is going to transfer. This makes me question where Jay Wright is taking this program. I'm not calling for his head.... I just want some real anwsers instead of the BS that he usually spits out. You can't defend Malcom's lack of playing time, the stats prove that logic wrong. I will support Malcom Grant wherever he chooses to go.
Posted by Ryan | February 11, 2008 10:49 PM
Posted on February 11, 2008 22:49
Jonathan,
I read a few reports from fans that said Jay Wright had to be restrained from going after someone in the crowd after the game. Did you see anything along these lines after the final buzzer?
JS
Posted by Jon Solomon | February 11, 2008 11:06 PM
Posted on February 11, 2008 23:06
Jon,
I left the floor pretty quickly after the final buzzer and also, I was sitting across the floor and diagonally from the Villanova bench and the tunnel where they left the court. So I was not looking that way at the time.
Posted by Jonathan Tannenwald![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blogs.phillynews.com/inquirer/pretzel/nav-commenters.gif)
|
February 11, 2008 11:18 PM
Posted on February 11, 2008 23:18
Jonathan,
Has the press been asking Jay about why Malcom Grant is being benched?
Posted by SoCal | February 12, 2008 8:44 AM
Posted on February 12, 2008 08:44
Hey Jonathan,
The Washington Post Sports "Bog" linked to you today. Congratulations.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2008/02/georgetown_gets_another_gift.html
Posted by Zach | February 12, 2008 11:16 AM
Posted on February 12, 2008 11:16
Is there any word on if the rumor of Malcolm Grant transferring is true?
If so I think this will ended up hurting Nova in more ways than one. First they will lose there most college-ready and consistent freshman (when given PT). Also this would be there second transfer (in addition to Ott, which isn't a huge loss) this year, which I think will heavily impact Jay Wright's future recruiting. Having players transfer doesn't look appealing to up and coming recruits.
Please give Malcolm Grant more playing time!! Or at least an explanation why one of your best players never gets in the game.
Posted by Recent Nova Grad, Longtime Fan | February 12, 2008 11:29 AM
Posted on February 12, 2008 11:29
"I feel good tonight, because I know what we have to do to be a good team," Wright said. "You look out there sometimes, we had four freshmen on the court, and we're playing pretty good defense. Now, there are other games when we had those guys out there, and it was a disaster." - From David Aldridge's article.
Wright said he had four freshman on the court? I only counted 3: Pena, Stokes and Fisher. I was at the game and did not see any another freshman in there. Does Wright actually think that Grant was in the game tonight? Maybe thats why we haven't heard an explanation of why Grant isn't playing, because Jay actually thinks he is giving him playing time.
Posted by Recent Nova Grad, Longtime Fan | February 12, 2008 11:43 AM
Posted on February 12, 2008 11:43
That game was atrocious to watch. Making people sit through an extra session of it would have been cruel.
Posted by Swengali | February 12, 2008 1:27 PM
Posted on February 12, 2008 13:27
Jonathan,
Can you please give us any updates/information you have on the whole Malcolm Grant situation at Nova. Thanks.
Posted by Chris Charles | February 12, 2008 2:26 PM
Posted on February 12, 2008 14:26
What ever came about to the rumor about Wright having to be restrained from going into the crowd?
Solomon mentioned it above..
Posted by Anand | February 12, 2008 3:53 PM
Posted on February 12, 2008 15:53