Duke head coach Jon Scheyer was quick to comment after the Blue Devils’ shockingly close call against Siena that Saints head coach Gerry McNamara had outcoached him Thursday.
But among McNamara’s most shrewd (and controversial) decisions as he attempted to coach No. 16 seed Siena to a stunning upset was essentially completely eschewing his bench. For the first 39 minutes and 50 seconds of the Saints’ upset bid, McNamara played only his five starters. Had McNamara not subbed in freshman guard Christian Jones to help foul in the final seconds, Siena would have been the first team since DePaul in the 1979 Final Four to not go to its bench once.
