(Photo by Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
It’s a tied game, 77 all, 40 seconds to go. Auburn just leveled things up after an expensive upset in the UK, with the lead becoming the game – drawing two points going the other way in the hour. Now the Cats have the ball, but not the lead on the scoreboard for the first time since the 16:45 mark in the second half.
What will they do?
First, let’s go back a week to when John Calipari said he needs someone, anyone, to introduce himself and make a big bid.
“I need some dagger launchers”, Calipari said to the program’s listeners on February 4.“ Who will do the filming? We had shots against Alabama, we had shots against Georgia, we had shots (against Mizzou); we had shots to take us back (in the game), but the ones that would be the dagger in them, we missed. “
Calipari: “I need dagger throwers”
“You can’t be afraid of losing … Are you kidding to throw that dagger”, he said.
Now, back to the present (or a few hours ago, bear with me in this exercise). Tied with the ball in the final minute, it is an opportunity for someone to respond to Calipari’s call and be the dagger launcher.
And Davion Mintz threw the dagger.
“It is a great move for this team and it is a great move for Davion,” said Calipari of the shot.
“Do you still remember the Vanderbilt game, we made a small hammer screen on the weak side and he dropped it and ended the game. What he did today, these are daggers. It takes a single guy, and I’ll tell you why: they can’t be afraid to lose the photo. This is what will do that. If the guy’s eyes are like this and his mouth is moving, he is probably afraid of missing the shot, all right. Now, that guy is not going to make it; oh, it was so close. Yes, but the guy who is not afraid of making mistakes, I take care of the foul, but I’m shooting this and this is a dagger. Proud of him.”