SCU Men's Basketball - Close ≠ "Close" in Finishing Games

Last February, I wrote a column about the SCU "Nice Try Syndrome" after we lost another game to the Zags.

Here's the link if you want to read it for a refresher.
SCU - Nice Try Syndrome

Now the "nice try" has morphed into the "we're close" campaign.
  
Reality check.  We may get close, but we just can't "close out" games.
   
In many professions, "closers" get paid the big bucks.  Those that are close, get to watch the "closers" receive their recognition for performing.

Mark Few's teams are closers.  Since 2008, they've won 65% of their games with less than four minutes left and within four points.  We didn't have much to celebrate this New Year's Eve as it was the fifth time they've closed us out when we were either within four or tied in the last few minutes.  We are 1-19 vs Gonzaga since the 2007-08 season.  

We are 34% (24 of 47) as closers since 2007-08, including six losses this season alone.

Here's the amazing part, we were AHEAD with less than four minutes to go in 25 of those games that we lost...Close?

In 2008 Coach Keating said, "Since I've been at Santa Clara we have lost 20 games, 15 of those have been two possession games.  I have to get better, they have to get better - we all have to get better."

I guess it's still a work in progress.

I like the way we played Thursday afternoon.  We actually shared the ball and guys other than Jared made shots.  Emmanuel played his best game yet and gave us a presence in the paint we sorely need.  His "volleyball" spike of a Perkins' shot energized Leavey.  Kai, Hauser and Feagin all made solid 3's in the second half.  Some vital signs...

Jared was Jared; spectacular.

I left Leavey wondering, where was this type of performance in our other 9 losses?  We all know we had another "we let it get away" loss vs Arizona.  The PR machine tells us we're growing, learning and getting better....IMHO, we looked "grown up" enough to take out the Zags!  

Thursday's game was a subtle tutorial on how to close out games.  Sorry to indulge.  I submit four lessons.

At 3:35 to go, Kyle WiltJer, a senior, did a premier acting job in front of the official to draw a foul on Nate. He knows how to get that call and as a 92% FT shooter - smart.

Zags ahead by 2 late, foul us three times preventing the "dagger" 3pt shot, also knowing our "prime time" FT track record.

Late in the game, Josh Perkins catches us off guard with a line drive FT and gets his own rebound - draining key seconds off the clock.

Zags make their clutch FT's in the last three minutes without their best shooters at the line.

For SCU, missed FT's and a layup - at 13 seconds, oh well....Then with only precious seconds to go, Jared fouls out?  We had to make the foul - but both Jared and the bench seemed unaware he already had four fouls.  He walked back onto the court before getting the news.

So we can get close - but we are not yet "closers."

In late game or clock situations, we seem to stop our motion, get the ball to Jared and then stand around and watch him try to beat the defense 1-1.  It's just too much to expect when our opponents know to make sure someone other than Jared beats them.  Until that changes and we trust other options, our "close ratio" won't change much.

If we're close, we play with confidence and consistency.  If we're close, we know how to make our "reads" and hit the open shooter before we default to the Jared 1-1 late clock play.  If we're close, we don't lose six games in the last two possessions this year.

As season ticket holders and fans, we've been hearing about close for a long time and now we'd like to see "closure" - a winning WCC and season record, an NCAA bid, and a program that's known for "closing games" not happy just being close...



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