TREMBLING HAND BAYESIAN EQUILIBRIUM. North Carolina was just a little bit better than Wisconsin this afternoon, preempting a Big Ten sweep of one side of the Final Four. There's something about Wisconsin's endgame I don't understand. With about 55 seconds to go, Wisconsin converted an alley-oop to pull to within three. In the next series, Wisconsin had to commit some fouls to get to a foul shooting situation (the rules no longer provide for a free throw on a defensive possession to preempt an old strategy of a team giving up one point for the chance at two.) It is possible to play strong defense without committing lots of fouls, which is why I obsessed about this all season. I can understand using the non-shooting fouls in order to have the option of putting the opponent in the bonus. What I cannot understand is coach Ryan's strategy of putting North Carolina on the free throw line. With a good defense, Wisconsin has the opportunity for a turnover, including a shot-clock violation, or a rebound, and the chance to work for a good three to tie the game. The commentators kept talking about "stretch the game," and perhaps giving North Carolina at most two points while retaining 54 seconds to play was the best strategy, but I'd like to see the strategy tree laid out more carefully.

RUNNING EXTRA: "Trembling hand" indeed.

To that point, the Badgers had committed only four fouls in the second half, so Ryan called a timeout and instructed his team to foul twice more to put North Carolina in the bonus.

Once that was accomplished, the Badgers could have tried to make a defensive stop, knowing they would have at least 17 seconds left to tie the score. The plan went awry, however, when Taylor fouled Felton on the inbounds play.

"I wasn't trying to foul," Taylor said. "I was trying to play close 'D' and get a turnover."

Felton sank both free throws to give North Carolina an 83-78 lead with 52 seconds left.

That should clear it up.