Not sure if he got injured or something else occurred but it seemed strange he didn’t play down the stretch. I know he wasn’t having a great game but I don’t remember him doing anything wrong either. Strange to me to have him on the bench and be playing Bamba who had two traveling calls driving from the corner and especially Rosario who hadn’t played all year and didn’t seem to even know the blob plays
Kunc
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I'm just speculating, but in the post game interview, Smith referred to a chewing out that he gave to one of the players that he was afraid might have been heard on the broadcast because of the empty Friel Court. Someone else indicated that Kunc didn't aggressively challenge a couple of 3-point shots. So I'm putting 2+2 together and totally speculating those two things (and probably more) were related. Whether that resulted in his benching for the rest of the game, I don't know. Kunc seems like a real good kid, so I don't know if there was some friction between coach and player. We sure could've used his free throw shooting down the stretch, if nothing else.
FWIW, Smith also said in the interview that he didn't think Bamba traveled either time he was called...and that it's a move he's been doing all season without a call.
Glad Cougar
FWIW, Smith also said in the interview that he didn't think Bamba traveled either time he was called...and that it's a move he's been doing all season without a call.
Glad Cougar
I mentioned it during the game thread that I was surprised Kunc wasn't playing at the end, especially since the rest of the big men were done.
I was pretty surprised when Rosario was inserted. I thought Kunc was injured but that didn't appear to be the case when you could see him on the sideline.
He's a solid player but still a a tweener. If Miller gets healthy between him, Efe, and Jakimovski there probably aren't going to be a lot of minutes.
He's a solid player but still a a tweener. If Miller gets healthy between him, Efe, and Jakimovski there probably aren't going to be a lot of minutes.
Completely agree on Kunc. He's great against less talented players in the non conference schedule where his experience and craftiness allows him to produce. But he was in over his head against Arizona's bigger and stronger players who had a plan to set hard screens on Jaz to open up his man for a wide open three. Smith was smart to adjust.
Going with Rosario who didn’t even know where to go on the out of bounds plays is not an adjustment, sounds more like a message
