Jeff Bzdelik showed every basketball coach in America at any level how not to execute a final possession with the game on the line tonight. Let's examine what he did and what he should have done on the final possesion of regulation.

First, calling a timeout with 8 seconds left on the shot clock was way too late. Eight seconds gives you very little margin for error if your first play doesn't work.

Second, after the timeout, they waited too long to get into the offense. Higgins held the ball for 4 seconds 50 feet away from the basket before he made his move. That left CU with only 4 seconds left on the shot clock to get a shot off. They eliminated any margin of error.

Third, Higgins didn't penetrate. You can't settle for an off-balance, contested 23-foot jump shot. The fact that they never passed the ball with any intention of running a play and that they never penetrated the 3-point arch is inexcusable.

Fourth and most disturbing is Bzdelik's thought process during  that final possession. It's crystal clear to me that his number one goal was to leave Kansas with as little time remaining as possible. You only get so many opportunities in a game against the number one team in the nation to win. This was their opportunity. Instead of playing not to lose, Bzdelik should have had his team playing to win.

You have to give yourself time to run a play with more than one option. The Buffs should have called a timeout with 12-15 seconds left. Then, after the timeout,  they should have gotten into their offense right away by passing the ball or penetrating or better yet both. They couldn't have run an easier play to defend. They made it was too easy on Kansas' defense.

Ultimately I think Bzdelik was scared to lose rather than being excited to win. That's probably the worst mindset a coach can have especialy considering his pedigree and experience. They pay him good money to come up with much better plays than that.