"I'll Make It"

by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 1, 2010 3:50 PM EST in Basketball

Credit the coaching staff for facilitating confidence that could pay dividends later this month.

Edgar Sosa deserves a lot of credit for his heroics in Storrs on Sunday. The coaching staff deserves a higher suit allowance.

Time out. 29 seconds on the clock. Tie game. For both teams, an NCAA Tournament bid lingers in the air like cigar smoke. Husky student section rumbling behind the Louisville basket. Pitino gives Edgar the green light inside the huddle. Asks him to make something happen. Horn blows. Edgar Sosa's ball. 133 miles away from Rice High School. 47 feet to the rim from midcourt. All eyes on you, #10.

Last night, while re-watching the last few seconds of the game, I thought about the movie Hoosiers. Coach Dale (Gene Hackman) calls a timeout with 18 seconds left in the State Championship Game. Tells his team in the huddle that he wants to use their clutch shooter, Jimmy Chitwood, as a decoy to set up a better shot for another player. Everyone stares at Chitwood, flashing looks of dismay. Coach Dale then asks "What's the matter with you guys?" and Chitwood says, with confidence, "I'll make it".

Hoosiers_new-subsample_medium

Back to Storrs, Connecticut. Time out. 29 seconds on the clock. Everyone inside Gampel Pavilion knew Edgar wanted to take the last shot. Pitino knew that Edgar needed to take the last shot. For himself. For his team. For the win. And perhaps most importantly, for confidence heading into March. 29 seconds left. "I'll make it," says Edgar.

Sosa feeds off the pressure, the fans, the moment, the oft overstated bravado that is a New York City point guard. Yes, Peyton Siva is primed for a great career at Louisville. But today, this week, this March...it's Edgar's time. Throw out the efficiency stats. Forgive the missed free throws. Ignore the criticism. A Louisville team that plays well this March is a team that's led by a confident Edgar. A Good Edgar. An "I'll Make It" Edgar.

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The great thing is you don't have to throw out the efficiency stats

Edgar is having, but just about every measure, an absolutely outstanding offensive year. He’s playing really well this year, but, sadly, many of our fans don’t seem to care.

by _TheGainesShow_ on Mar 1, 2010 4:13 PM EST reply actions

I like throwing things out. Makes me feel good.

Thinking more of the stats I’ve seen posted on The L Yes! Report from recent losses. The Sosa/Smith tandem has been horrid in our losses in the +/- category.

by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 1, 2010 4:19 PM EST up reply actions

Well +/- stats are kind of dumb to begin with, so I wouldn’t put too much stock in that anyway. As for the per 36 extrapolations, there are so many variables that go into the numbers a role player gets that it’s just ridiculous to try and say they’d do this or that if they played such and such number of minutes. For instance, like 10 or 12 games into the season, Siva’s per 36 minute steal number would have given him the highest per game steal average in the last 10 years, and something like 2 steals a game more than the best number posted by a major conference player in that time. Not to mention that that blog kind of misrepresented the numbers a bit. On a per 36 basis, Edgar would still be averaging more points and assists, and fewer TOs, than Siva. Edgar is having a great year, and there really aren’t any stats that can disagree with that.

by _TheGainesShow_ on Mar 2, 2010 12:00 AM EST up reply actions

I think we agree.

by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 2, 2010 12:48 AM EST up reply actions

I did efficiency stats on

last on the Rutgers game and DePaul game… then we lost the St J’s game and the G Town game. I’m not doing anymore; It’s too risky. I did give Edgar props in in the DePaul game. He played a short amount of time and was amazing. I’m pretty sure if I calculated them up for G Town, he would have done pretty well just by scoring alone. Others are welcome to go forward with those posts, but I am giving them up.

by REALISTICCARDSFAN on Mar 2, 2010 1:11 AM EST up reply actions

They have their place

But when I’m in the middle of writing an over-the-top puff piece, I feel compelled to take jabs at math while appealing to emotion. But I love math. And there will come a time when I’ll be forced to ask for it’s forgiveness.

by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 2, 2010 1:20 AM EST up reply actions

“Math is a wonderful thing. Math is a really cool thing. So get off your ath, let’s do some math. Math, math, math, math, math. Three minus four is?”

School of Rock? Anyone? No. Okay.

by _TheGainesShow_ on Mar 2, 2010 2:39 PM EST up reply actions

Chills

Welcome to March

by Chris Redman is my hero on Mar 1, 2010 4:36 PM EST reply actions

Another great quote from that film

“3-2-1, Let’er fly…In and out. I was fouled.”

Yours respectfully,
Shooter

Maddie in Portland, Oregon

by kentuckybred on Mar 1, 2010 5:21 PM EST reply actions

me doing my 'Charlie Smile' after reading this.

I pray theres not a “Charlie Frown”

From DownnnTownnn!!

by Oh My Hes On Fire on Mar 1, 2010 5:28 PM EST reply actions

Kudos to Edgar.

I have been a severe critic of his (and Jerry) for their lack of leadership skills. It does seem like I was wrong. Edgar is playing his best when we need him and Jerry has looked like he’s more comfortable on the floor. I have to agree that Edgar making the winning basket is a big time motivator and confidence booster. Jerry Smith’s, end-of-game, “I fucking love you, man!” chest bump/hug will be played out in their minds and want to be recreated.

I honestly think this win was far and away the most critical of the year. And we have Edgar Sosa last shot as an example of clutch play. Excellent.

by JustCards on Mar 1, 2010 6:08 PM EST reply actions