TCU’s Dixon on late-game strategy in loss at KU: ‘I like our best guy going to the rim’
.jpg "TCU guard Mike Miles (1) shoots under pressure from Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) during the second half of Thursday’s game in Lawrence. Miles missed a layup with the Frogs down three points in the waning seconds of a 72-68 loss. “I probably got fouled but we weren’t getting them all night,” Miles said.")
Jamie Dixon knew some would question his late-game strategy to have Mike Miles go for a quick layup, rather than looking for a potential game-tying 3-point attempt, with TCU trailing No. 6 Kansas 71-68 with 9.4 seconds left.
Miles got to the rim and shot the ball with a little more than 5 seconds left, but the shot didn’t fall. KU’s Dajuan Harris was credited with a block, not a foul, on the play.
KU went on to make a one of two free throws for a 72-68 victory on Thursday night.
“They came to us and told us it would be 9.4 left,” Dixon said. “We said be ready to get a 3, but if we had a layup to go take it. That’s on me. Looking at it on replay, I’d take my chances with that. There was obviously contact.
“I like our best guy going to the rim, too much time left in a situation like that. I think it can be questioned after the fact, but I think Mike made the right decision, the right choice. I totally support him on that. I thought he had downhill, lot of space.
“They were obviously guarding the 3-point line. Deadball situation, so they were ready on that. We had shooters in at the other spots to spread it out, so they recognized that.”
Miles also questioned the no-call by the officials on his layup attempt.
“Coach Dixon told me to go get a layup. That’s what I tried to do,” Miles said. “It was the right play. We didn’t really need a 3 and I saw I beat him. I probably got fouled but we weren’t getting them all night. You know, it’s cool. We beat them one time. That’s what we wanted. We’re on to West Virginia.”
TCU closes its regular season at West Virginia on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. in Morgantown.
