Leonard Hamilton Starts to Freak Out When Asked About Not Fouling

Submitted by BursleyHall82 on

If you're still watching the broadcast, they just asked Leonard Hamilton to explain why he didn't foul when they were only down 4, and he acted like it was the dumbest question he's ever been asked. He almost walked away.

Meanwhile, the people in Vegas who had Michigan -4.5 are wondering the same thing.

I'm just thankful he turned into a coaching idiot there at the end.

[EDIT: Changed the headline after several people rightly pointed out that he composed himself after initially starting to freak out.]

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

March 24th, 2018 at 11:38 PM ^

and fouling Duncan is just giving UM two points. There had to be less than 1% chance down 4, 10 seconds and 90% shooter with the ball.

I thought Leonard was very gracious to UM and he rightfully acknowledged the game was not decided in those final seconds.

Chalky White

March 25th, 2018 at 12:41 AM ^

It's common sense to foul. Even if you go down by six, if you hit a 3, there is no guarantee Michigan can inbound the ball. They still had a shot to win the game. That's what Dana should have said when he started acting like a dick.

Hamilton was just being a sore loser. He was pissed that Michigan's defense really was that good.

Mr Miggle

March 25th, 2018 at 8:27 AM ^

In fact, he was quite the opposite. He made no excuses and gave Michigan full credit.

He was unhappy about the question because it was an invitation to throw his players under the bus. The guy closest to Robinson had 4 fouls and didn't want to foul out. Does anyone really think he instructed his team to foul if they made that last shot and not to foul if they missed it? 

I thought he showed a lot of class under the circumstances.

Chalky White

March 25th, 2018 at 8:52 AM ^

People are being way too dramatic. No one is getting thrown under the bus if he says there was a miscommunication and in the heat of the moment, things got crossed up.

He was pissed at how they lost because he knew they had no answer. He gave Michigan credit long after that bitter beer face mini fit. What did he think they would ask? I have never seen a team let that much time run out to end a game when there is that much on the line. Dana said thank you at the end of the interview and he just walked off. You would have thought she accused him of having a little dick.

Mr Miggle

March 25th, 2018 at 9:21 AM ^

not to foul. Blaming miscommunication is just a polite way of saying his players weren't listening. It invites more questions too. Of course he was pissed about how they lost. Who wouldn't be? Giving Michigan credit was literally the first thing he did when he finally decided to answer the question.

Jinxed

March 25th, 2018 at 12:47 AM ^

It’s basically 0%... 11 second to go you’d need 2 missed FTs from a 90% FT shooter(1 %) + a super quick 3 pointer (30 % being generous), another foul with at least 1 missed ft or a turn over( 10 %ish) and a super quick 2 to tie or win (maybe 40% being ultra generous)

.01 * .3 * .1 * .4 = at most 1 in 10,000 to win or tie

MGoPoe

March 25th, 2018 at 1:53 AM ^

I know in the Houston game the guy was a ~60% shooter but he was 8/9 on the night iirc.  Fouled, on the line, missed both, Poole hits a program highlight shot.  Yes I know Robinson hits 89.7% but still, this is the NCAA tournament.  Money is on the line, last game of the year Brent can't hold anything back.  Crazier things have already happened this year, throw caution to the wind.

MgoBadFish

March 25th, 2018 at 2:18 AM ^

Basically 0% is a lot different than 0%. 11 seconds, 2 missed FT's from Duncan is really unlikely but not 0%. Then you need a bucket, probably a 3, lets give them 3.6 seconds to get it. Now they are down 1 with 7ish seconds and then even if Michigan makes 2 FT's, FSU is down 3 and another 3.6 seconds later, who knows. 

 

Yeah, all this is unlikely to happen but FSU gave up with 11 seconds to go while down 4. They. Gave. Up.

Red is Blue

March 25th, 2018 at 8:13 AM ^

I get the general point, But, it seems the most likely scenario for FSU comeback win would involve Robinson making 1 with the rest of your scenario times FSU odds in overtime OR Robinson making both, quick 3, steal/miss 2 FT (with potentially a much worse FT shooter), last second 3 win in OT.

Given the approximate nature of your calculation it is fine, but the odds of Robinson missing 2 could vary from the odds of selecting two misses from random shots over the course of the year.

In any case, a long shot.

Mr. Owl

March 24th, 2018 at 11:41 PM ^

I thought it was great.  He thought the game was over, which fouling Duncan right there just delays the inevitable.  She kept on it.  He Lloyd'ed her.  Then he heaped praise on the team that beat his.

 

How is that ridiculous?  He didn't answer a stupid question like that.

McSomething

March 24th, 2018 at 11:48 PM ^

Because he looked ready to walk off after a legit question. I don't recall her putting the loss on the lack of a foul there. I didn't say completely ridiculous, just a bit. Which it was. He gathered and recomposed himself, but initially didn't handle it the best.

SpinachAssassin

March 25th, 2018 at 12:00 AM ^

Happened to Loyola. Happened to Michigan. The tourney's all about weird shit coming down the stretch in a single elimination tournament.

Coach Hamilton will be formidable next year, and that shot blocker (Obiagu) is on a different level. Yet if I were those players after the game, I'd be kind of pissed. I'd rather go down swinging.

Muttley

March 25th, 2018 at 12:16 AM ^

Say Robinson misses the first and makes the second. Down 5 w/ 9 to go. Then say FSU executes a length of the court pass like Northwester did to us last year. Now you're in a one possession game with time left.

I can understand the FSU player wanting to foul someone else other than Robinson. I bet that's what he was thinking. I'm sure he wishes he wouldn't have frozen.

And if you are in Coach Hamilton's shoes, there's no value in throwing your player under the bus.

Wolfman

March 25th, 2018 at 1:56 AM ^

Well all the gentlemen in the studio were in her ear telling her to ask the question because they felt it had to be asked. Something tells me none of them would have asked it, however. I, along with every other person on this site who's ever coached a game has made some boneheaded decisions, and I'm not saying that was, seeing all it would have involved to come back. None of us feel good about it and immediately after making it is not a good time to catch the man. I thought he did a great job of turning it back to the game and giving the maize and blue credit. But it was their mind, not hers.  And it scares me that Charles has to, due to noting more than odds, get one right eventuall. Love the guy but keep pulling for the opposition and you can always be right next year. 

Mineral King

March 24th, 2018 at 11:51 PM ^

Agree that he did turn it around the 2nd part of the interview, but he tried to intimidate her at first and acted like it wasn’t a fair question. Then at the end he was rude again. Yeah tough situation and all, but prolly time to grow up.

SD Larry

March 25th, 2018 at 1:10 AM ^

I felt like game was over when Duncan secured rebound, and the Coach was trying to protect his player.  While they should have fouled, way too much analysis on the point, and not the reason Michigan won the game. 

Ceck

March 24th, 2018 at 11:32 PM ^

Yeah, he just barely reigned it in before really making a fool of himself. Not a good look trying to make the interviewer look bad, even if the question was not one you want to answer...

Mr. Elbel

March 24th, 2018 at 11:33 PM ^

My heart definitely thanks him. Glad it ended there even though Duncan would have only further sealed it. Those 10 seconds of relief will help me make it through San Antonio without a heart attack... hopefully.