Schaefer may have put the blame on Mississippi State’s 88-84 loss to Oregon at the playing field. Why should a No. Why should a No. 1 seed play across the continent before the 11,000 or so of its counterparts? The 2-seed’s campus is 100 miles away from the 2 seed’s fans. Schaefer stated, “Here’s what it is.” “We could have played it elsewhere, on a neutral floor, and in front of a thousand people. Are we ready to do that? It was fun to be out there. My kids enjoyed playing there today, I believe. “I was proud to coach that game today,” he might have attributed it to the officiating. Officials allowed the teams to play in the first, third and fourth quarters. The third quarter saw a light tap become a foul. Teaira McCowan took three. Schaefer was not blaming this, though he did yell at officials quite a bit. Schaefer blamed one person. Schaefer stated, “I’m disappointed with myself.” “I am a very good defensive coach. Tonight, we gave up 88 points. “You’re not supposed win those,” he said. However, any inability to defend was not due to a lack or effort. The Bulldogs worked hard and guarded hard. You can only get one hand in their faces and Oregon shot all night with its hands in the shooter’s face. State’s season ended at 33-3. This leaves them one game shy of the third consecutive Final Four. Oregon, 33-4, advances. You still want to be a victim? Your public enemy is No. 1: S-a-b-r-i-n-a. Sabrina Ionescu, her full name is Sabrina Ionescu. She was determined to win this game for the Ducks. She made 12 of her 20 field shots and 5 of 8 of the 8 beyond the arc. She scored 31 points. She had eight assists. She had seven rebounds. This is what she did: She beat the Bulldogs. Schaefer stated, “I thought she made some really difficult shots at the end the shot clock.” “That’s what great athletes do. They will make shots when your team is in need. I thought she was very difficult to guard.” Ionescu had Jordan Danberry and Jazzmun Sherlock, two of the most skilled defensive guards in America, following her around and chasing her. Didn’t matter. She was able to jump long distances and drive to the bucket for others. She said that she was fuelled by the crowd. Ionescu stated, “The floor was shaking.” “It gave me goosebumps to hear them supporting us. “We’re not taking that for granted.” Both teams were even at 59 going into the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter is when McCowan has beaten the other team and State takes control of the game. This fourth quarter. Ionescu had 12 of her 31 points, while Oregon made 10 of its 14 attempts from the floor. It’s difficult to beat 10 of 14. It’s almost impossible to beat 10. Sometimes there is no fault. Sometimes you have to give credit to the other person – or girl. McCowan, State’s All-American, scored 19 points, rebounded fifteen times, and blocked four shots. But it wasn’t enough. Jazzmun Holmes, the point guard scored 13 points, had 15 assists and didn’t commit one turnover. But it wasn’t enough. All five State starters scored double figures. State had only six turnovers as a team. This was not enough. Kelly Graves, Oregon coach, said that he had never coached at such high levels of play from both sides. He called it the “best game I’ve ever played in” The team that lost the match scored 48.4 percent, and only six turnovers. Schaefer stated, “I don’t believe I’ve ever coached a team that made six turnovers or lost.” Sometimes you have to give credit to the other team. That was the day. State did not play poorly. The Bulldogs were hardworking and played well. Oregon was even better.