Boeheim on the Griffin Block: 'The Best Block I've Seen Here'
SU's defense struggled throughout the game against Buffalo defensively. They just couldn't get into a rhythm enough to stop them from scoring. It just seemed like the game was going be lost as they trailed by as many as 16.
Somehow that all changed towards the end of the game when the team, including Alan Griffin, pushed themselves to tie the game with 13 seconds left in regulation. The last play went to Marek Dolezaj but strong defense by the Bulls forced him to slip and turn the ball over.
"It was exactly what we wanted to do," head coach Jim Boeheim said after the game. "It just didn't work. We wanted Marek to have the ball as he has had it all game, and to make a play out of there, and he slipped."
That slip up led to one of the best defensive plays you will see. After an outlet pass appeared to set Buffalo up for a game winning layup, Griffin ran down his man and blocked the shot at the rim.
"As I said earlier it's probably the best block I've seen here," Boeheim said. "So I don't know what else I can say to go further than that. He made an unbelievable play and it saved the game."
Griffin said in the post game conference as well that "the game was on the line and I knew that I had to do something and I am just glad that it played out that way because I didn't want to let my teammates down."
Griffin didn't hear when Boeheim complimented him on that play but when he was told about it all he said was "to hear that from a legendary coach, that's pretty cool to hear."
Griffin finished the game with 24 point and 10 rebounds along with that game saving block. The team now waits for Tuesday against Notre Dame.
