Basketball Entry 4 - You can't blame Coach Mike Davis...

You can't blame Mike Davis for this loss.

Well, at least not the end-game.

A nameless SMU player was shooting free-throws with 13.7 left. Mo Gibbs looked to Paul and Wen with a telling look. It said "I'm sneaking down court, give me the long pass so I can tie this game up."

Cue the second of three misses from the charity stripe for the Mustangs.

Paul's the playmaker. Paul looks to make things happen. Paul was looking to drive in during the last 13.7 seconds, make the bucket, and draw the stupid foul from SMU. SMU didn't bite. Paul was so surprised they left him alone that he actually missed the bucket. Paul reacted. Paul played on instinct, something he's been doing for the last two years under Anderson.

But instinct will only get you so far in Davis's system. Davis's system depends on recognition, stratagy, and opportunity. None of those things depend on instinct.