Ugh, just got home from Amherst. First of all, congrats to U of R, I hope you win it all.
I was really looking forward to a very intense physical game inside, to see how the two 6'7"'s Harris and Turner would match up against Hauben and Onyiriuka. I thought their interior defense would be the key to the game. Four seconds into the game, the ref called a ticky-tack foul on Turner, and another with minimal contact less than two minutes later. Neither were obvious, nor were they charge/block decisions. Turner then sat the next eighteen minutes of the half. Anyone familiar with Rochester knows how they love to pound it inside and play physical, and immediately the game was altered.
Potsdam couldn't buy a bucket, shooting 31% in the first half. It was the exact opposite of the Fisher game. Still, despite the big guy on the bench, and playing a bad half offensively, they were down three at the break.
Rochester shot 70% from the field in the second half. Still , the Bears were within two with 3 and a half minutes to go. You have to hand it to U of R. Every time the Bears needed that crucial stop, Rochester knocked down the jumpers.
Obviously, I'm biased, but I just hate to see referees take the game out of the hands of the players, especially knowing what type of game it would be.
To all the Bears, thanks for a great run.
Maybe I'm just extra mad because I had Potsdam, York, and Stevens Point in the final four in my bracket.
I'd love to hear other impressions of those who were at the game.
