Was Gavin Skelly's play from about 2:30- 1:15 left in this game the single most important 75 seconds of individual basketball play in NU history?
If you don't have the tape:
It starts with a great defensive sequence, blocking a shot attempt in the paint with 2:30 left, scrambling hard for the subsequent loose ball. Gets called for a (BS) foul scrambling to the corner for the ball on a hustle play - and Rutgers #11 then misses the front end of a 1-1. Zero points for Rutgers. Stays a 4 point deficit instead of 6.
Slides into the corner when every player on Rutgers is focused on BMac and the buries the huge 3 from the corner to cut it to 1.
Runs back and jumps out hard on Sanders (who had been killing us all night!) when Sanders steps back after after a switch to launch what he thought was going to be an open 3. Alters Sanders's 3 attempt. Brick. Keeps it at 1 instead of being down 4.
Law hits the front of the rim on a 3 attempt -- and who's there for the offensive rebound/tip back to re-start the offense so BmC can hit HIS huge 3? None other than: Gavin Skelly. There is no BMac second chance 3 without Skelly's tipback...
BMac's shot was great. In my view, though, Skelly's 75 seconds of exceptional play on both sides of the court leading up to the BMac 3 is what won this game.
Skelly prevented 5 points, scored 3 and created 3 more in those 75 seconds - when it was absolutely positively do or die - 11 points in 4 possessions.
Most important all-around individual 1 1/4 minutes of play ever by an NU player in my book.
If you don't have the tape:
It starts with a great defensive sequence, blocking a shot attempt in the paint with 2:30 left, scrambling hard for the subsequent loose ball. Gets called for a (BS) foul scrambling to the corner for the ball on a hustle play - and Rutgers #11 then misses the front end of a 1-1. Zero points for Rutgers. Stays a 4 point deficit instead of 6.
Slides into the corner when every player on Rutgers is focused on BMac and the buries the huge 3 from the corner to cut it to 1.
Runs back and jumps out hard on Sanders (who had been killing us all night!) when Sanders steps back after after a switch to launch what he thought was going to be an open 3. Alters Sanders's 3 attempt. Brick. Keeps it at 1 instead of being down 4.
Law hits the front of the rim on a 3 attempt -- and who's there for the offensive rebound/tip back to re-start the offense so BmC can hit HIS huge 3? None other than: Gavin Skelly. There is no BMac second chance 3 without Skelly's tipback...
BMac's shot was great. In my view, though, Skelly's 75 seconds of exceptional play on both sides of the court leading up to the BMac 3 is what won this game.
Skelly prevented 5 points, scored 3 and created 3 more in those 75 seconds - when it was absolutely positively do or die - 11 points in 4 possessions.
Most important all-around individual 1 1/4 minutes of play ever by an NU player in my book.
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