This one hurt most of the three as we really had multiple chances to win it.
The entire Johnny entourage wore white sju shirts that were given out with the hope of inspiring the team. It didn't work. We did take a nice group photo, however.
Three plays stand out as pivotal in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory and surprisingly two were by our best player:
1) 20 secs. left in an encouraging 1st half and the Johnnies with the ball and a 4 point lead. Coach calls a time out to set up the last play which is Lovett dribbling at the top of the key than taking it to the basket with 6 seconds left. Marcus gets stripped and Vcu goes the other way for an uncontested layup. 4 or a potential 6 or 7 point half-time lead is now 2. Vcu excitedly sprints to the locker room and we walk off with our heads down. Huge swing.
2) 2nd half and Lovett gets the steal and is going in for the breakaway layup as payback for what happened at the end of the first half. As he drives to the basket he fatefully decides he's going to prove to everyone he can dunk even though he's only 6 ft. tall. Misses the dunk, Vcu gets the rebound and immediately nails a three for a 5 point swing. Brutal.
3) 2nd half and Vcu has the ball with the shot clock winding down. Sj deflects a pass and the ball is bouncing towards the sideline. Johnny player makes a great save and makes a one-handed pass to a teammate who's open for a breakaway dunk. Refs blow the whistle and award us the ball on a shot clock violation even though the one handed pass easily could have been ruled a change of possession.
Real tough loss but at least you can drink your way through it in the casino afterwards.