Dying by Seniority

In continuing a tradition we began a few years ago, my wife and I went to NCAA tournament games this weekend. Over the past five Marches, we have been to games in California, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and, this past weekend, Maryland. This year, we attended the first and second-round games of the women’s tournament held at the Comcast Center in College Park. Last night’s game featured second-seeded Maryland against seventh-seeded Louisville. My big takeaway from the game, which is probably the best women’s college game I’ve ever attended live, is that Louisville coach Jeff Walz cost his team any chance of surviving and advancing by putting the game into the hands of the lone senior on his active roster.

The Cardinals inbounded the ball under their own basket trailing by 3 with 15.2 seconds left in regulation. The play Walz called in the preceding timeout was to give senior Becky Burke a three for the tie. I understand that college coaches trust seniors, and I understand that Burke would appreciate having the continuation of her career be in her hands. BUT…at the time, Burke was 1-5 shooting from the field in the game. The single made field goal was a fast-break layup at the receiving end of a gorgeous 60-foot pass by sophomore Shoni Schimmel for an and-one. All four misses were from beyond the three-point arc. In Saturday’s first-round game versus Michigan State, Burke shot 3-10 (2-6 from 3), so she was on a 4-15 (2-10) stretch in the Comcast Center. Clearly, the game-saving shot should have been taken by someone else.

It was a poor choice by Walz, whose team had played a tough, gutsy game. In my opinion, he robbed his Cardinals of a chance to send the game into overtime. I feel bad for Burke; she did the best she could. She, Shoni Schimmel, and the rest of the Louisville team was let down by the man charged with leading them.

Don’t get me wrong; I actually like Walz. He’s done a great job in Louisville. He just made a bad decision last night, and it cost his team its season.