Working overtime: Bucknell’s historic season full of OT finishes

On Thursday night, the basketball coach in Bucknell, an hour after his bison cut Loyola Maryland, 76-72, in overtime in their quarterfinals Patriot League. It broke the NCAA record, but first, why is John Griffin III on the back on the couch?

“You wouldn’t believe what I was doing,” begins.

Okay, huh?

“I have like a virus.” I get H2O into my veins. I have a small IV event Postgame, so I will lie here for a minute. ”

It seems that the strictness of the night has taken him a lot. In fact, the coach who needs Postgame IV is the perfect symbol for the Bucknell season. And here’s the reason. . .

As already mentioned, Bison went overtime to beat Loyol on Thursday evening.

The same as defeating Southern Indiana, 75-69, at the beginning of the season.

And Richmond, 80-76.

And Lafayette, 65-62.

Then again, Thursday evening could have an unfortunate end. Bucknell could lose with Loyola in overtime.

Like Bison on Mount St. Mary’s, 93-89.

And Radford, 74-70.

And Lehigh, 66-64.

And Boston University, 85-82.

And the army, 116-110.

Read more: catching up Jack Gohlke from Oakland a year after March took over

Lost number? No wonder. This is nine overtime games from 32 – better than one of each four – and in fact Richmond, Mount St. Mary’s and Army, each of them went twice. A total of twelve other periods, which means that the average length of the Bizon game this season was really 41.9 minutes. NCAA Record Book, Meet Bucknell. No division team has ever played nine overtime games in the season. Six played eight, Texas last in 2018.

Bison left 4-5 in OT as part of the current ride on the roller coaster 18-14 years and No. 1 seeds in the semifinals of Patriot League. Bucknell started the season 4-10, but since then it is 14-4. He started 4-4 in Patriot Play, then won nine of the next 10.

Nine overtime games and others. If you were a coach, would you not need IV?

“It certainly gives you a perspective,” Griffin said. “You are trying to help your players.” Is it one meaning exhausting? Yes, that’s. The circumstances that lead to these simplifications, you cannot even develop some of them. But if you really just immerse yourself in the health of your children, win or lose, then you think less about it.

“It’s chaos.” I was good with eight. I didn’t need nine. It’s just the type of year it was. I don’t know how to explain it. ”

Southern Indiana was the first overtime in the second game of the season. A week later, Bison threw a 15-point lead and lost two exaggerated to Mount St. Mary’s, but three days later came from 21 points down to stun Richmond in double OT.

Furthermore, the loss of Radford in December, when Bucknell ran out of the body, four of the bison are polluting. The New Year did not stop the need for further work. January 2 Bucknell wasted a 20-point lead and lost to Lehigh Ao six days later he released a 11-point lead, but survived to beat Lafayette. This made six overtime games in 63 days. Later, in January, he was another at the University of Boston.

The wildest of the group was 8 February, when Bucknell scored from 13 points down in the final 3:17 regulation against the army, but eventually lost a shootout 116-110 in two overtime.

It tied a record with eight. March came; Would it be time for the ninth?

Certainly, Bison came out in the first half against Loyole for 17 years, but the blown leadership and a large assembly were a feature of this phenomenon. It was all gone in the second half and then Bucknell recovered to survive and progress. Bison has now won seven in a row and 10 of their last 11. Most of them, blessed, required only 40 minutes. Two weeks after the loss of 116-110 on the army defeated Black Knights by 31. From 20 January they did not lose in regulation.

“Do you know who we really sold by ringing?” Griffin said. “Our fans.” Our fans are absolutely exhausted. ”

But he saw his team to get Grit and Steel from all the extra work. Like Noah Williamson, a 7-Footer who grew up in Latvia and was a leading shooter in six overtime games. Or a point guard Josh Bascoe, who played 40 minutes in eight games, including 43 Thursday evening.

“Experience is the biggest teacher,” Griffin said. “You will learn that there is one of two ways to attack overtime.” One plays not to lose and one plays to win. Soon on our headings, even though we won some, we played not to lose. At this point we are interested in a very aggressive attitude and play to win.

“Game like this evening, after regulation and fears are we going to Hud?” No, we’ve gone through it many times. It was more about perseverance than anything else. Physical perseverance and mental endurance in these situations are becoming the key, but the main thing you learn is to play to win vs. not to lose. These are two completely approaches to the game. ”

Griffin is Kamenell Bucknell in Economics, which has earned 1,000 career points and team captain of his seniors season. Now it would be natural if he had a complex in any tight game.

“It probably happened in the game 5,” he said. “When it goes down for the last two minutes and is it a game with one possession, is there an element no, not again?” Certainly. We have seen everyone – in the basketball industry, as it is called a special situation – and we saw them all early. I would say we have a better idea of ​​how the score and what is required defensively, depending on time and score. You can’t be in situations we have, and you don’t have too much understanding of what you do. ”

One more thing they now have: NCAA recording.

“I think it’s actually cool,” Griffin said. “After the game I brought it to the team.” I said, “Felllasi, you, boys, you go in history.” It’s all part of the experience. What Bucknell makes quite unique is that we really care about the experience and here is the one that never has to break. ”

There is still a Patriot League tournament that will win and the NCAA tournament to be secured. Another is the Navy on Sunday. Wouldn’t it be a comfortable 10-point victory nice?

“Unfortunately,” Griffin said, “what probably gives me the greatest anxiety is just to know that it will not happen.”

Will have IV at hand.