While I'm happy that Roach made an awkward shot to win the game, I don't really understand the last possession. First of all, down 1 on your home court with 18 seconds left, isn't the conventional wisdom that you want to drive and get up a shot as soon as possible? If you miss, you still have time to gather yourself for another shot or at least foul to get one more possession. If your on the road, I could see holding for the last shot (even down one), but not at home. Was there a called play that was thwarted? Or, was it the plan to have Roach scramble wildly 35 feet from the basket before a desperate charge to the hoop? Again, conventional wisdom is that you've already got to a designed play to get you an open look in that situation.
Although there was certainly plenty to complain about re: coaching and decision making I'm not going to complain about the last play. It looked to me like the plan was to pull everyone away from the basket and have Roach beat his man or get fouled. It worked and maybe it worked because maybe it's been practiced many times. Regardless of conventional strategy, I would never want to have to expect OSU to miss a FT or us to have to make a 3 just to tie. To me that's like expecting to recover an onside kick to win/tie.
^^^Exactly right about the spacing of the court, to allow Roach freedom to find a lane. I certainly would not want to leave time for osu to get a shot. I think the last shot was one of a few things that did turn out right. That, and the final score!
I think a play was called an thwarted or looked like it was as it looked like Sims tried to set a screen but Roach didn't use it and ended up having the defense collapse on him. I unlike the K-state or Baylor game (I can't remember which), he was able to drive to the basket. I do think in that situation we want the last shot and the opportunity for a put back should we miss.
