I’m having a hard time getting too worked up over this, now that I got some sleep. I stressed quite a bit at the time, but I expected Louisville to pull within single digits at some point in the second half. Admittedly, I didn’t think they’d get to within 3, but there you go. I mean, looking at the final score isn’t far from what you would have expected before the game.
Louisville not only played a lot better in the second half, they were perfect from the line — 11-11 in the half and 14-15 overall. A team that averages .696 for the year shot .933 in this game. That helped a lot.
It also seemed very clear that the refs were not going to call anything but egregious and obvious fouls against Louisville a few minutes into the second half. A blowout has an effect on a lot people in different ways. Pitt was whisteled for 2 charges in the first 15 minutes of the second half. There were 6 fouls called against each team in that period. Then there were 2 questionable (I thought) foul calls against Graves on Dean. Things they let go, that they suddenly called.
Ultimately, I blame the usual person for this sort of thing. Shawn.
Pitt was cruising in the second half, when Shawn called me with around 14 minutes left in the game. Then Louisville began their comeback in earnest. I don’t know how he did it, I just know who was responsible.
The Big East Tournament doesn’t seem to be providing any individual splits online. Just the overall splits in shooting. Kind of annoying because that might help a little more in understanding some of this. My notes are a little sketchy, but Pitt shot only 1-16 on free throws in the final 2:24 — when Louisville had pulled to within 9.
Pitt won despite a bad game from Gray. Especially late, he just did not want to finish. He wanted to hook and fade on his shots — avoid contact and a foul. I don’t think he’s soft. He’s just got it in his head that he fears going to the line. That Marquette loss and those missed free throws really seems to have messed with his head. The Seton Hall game reinforced it. That mental part is going to be the hardest thing for him to overcome.
