For this week’s question and answer section with coach Samuels, we thought, why not see what went through his mind during the last seven minutes of the Ohio Valley Conference championship game?

So I sat down with coach Samuels and we watched that game and he shared his thoughts.

Braviere: I’m sure this is probably the fifth or sixth time you’ve watched this.

Samuels: Oh at least. I watched it that many times on Sunday, at least the last six to eight minutes.

Braviere: What I’d like to get is some of your thoughts on kind of a minute-by-minute basis.

Samuels: Initially we are disappointed, we’re down 20 in the game everybody plays their college career for. But we have not quit. Our players are still wanting to win, and wanting to find a way. I have assistant coaches making positive suggestions, and there is a belief on this team’s psyche because we’ve come back before.

7:40 left: Austin Peay 74 Eastern 57- Eastern plays good defense.

Samuels: Right here I think we have a chance, but we have to start to make adjustments on defense so they don’t get easy baskets

7:23 left: Austin Peay 76 Eastern 60- Hill hits a three

Samuels: Its a demeanor like that; I’ve seen Kyle get into special zones before. He’s going to take over offensively.

Braviere: Is this where you started to know it, when he hit that three?

Samuels: I knew that Kyle was going to take over, but my apprehension was can we stop them on offense. We can’t trade baskets because were too far down, and we can’t trade twos for threes because we’re too far down.

7:00 left: Austin Peay 76 Eastern 60- Lewis makes a nice defensive play.

Samuels: Right here is where our defensive play really helps, and Craig Lewis pressures the ball nicely.

6:47 left: Austin Peay 78 Eastern 60- Bergmann fouls Trenton Hassel

Samuels: Right here I’m thinking, ‘we can’t give them second chances, but if they are going to score with the clock stopped, that helps us too.’

6:40 left: Austin Peay 78 Eastern 63- Hill for three

Samuels: We’re scoring quickly and Kyle is still in that zone. And we are getting threes for twos. The goal we talked about at the previous timeout of getting the lead to 10 at four minutes is looking realistic.

6:17 left: Austin Peay 78 Eastern 63- Austin Peay turnover

Samuels: They are out of sync.

6:07 left: Austin Peay 78 Eastern 65- Lewis lays one in

Samuels: They start sensing a threat. They are really focused on Kyle, and he is giving up the ball to open players.

6:03 left: Austin Peay 78 Eastern 65- Austin Peay calls timeout

Samuels: At this timeout we all sense, both players and coaches, could see a look that Austin Peay knew they were in trouble.

5:32 left: Austin Peay 78 Eastern 67- Hill for two

Samuels: We are not taking much time, and we have our goal of getting to 10 about a minute and half early.

5:25 left: Austin Peay 78 Eastern 67- Eastern turns up the defense

Samuels: Look at us all pick up the defensive determination.

4:56 left: Austin Peay 78 Eastern 67- Miss by Hassel

Samuels: That’s two possessions in a row that Hassel hasn’t produced.

4:44 left: Austin Peay 78 Eastern 70- Hill for three

Samuels: We are coming man, and they are in serious trouble.

4:40 left: Austin Peay 78 Eastern 70- Austin Peay takes a timeout

Samuels: This timeout we’re down eight and it’s a game. We’re trying to refocus our kids that there is no rush right now. In other words if we use 20-25 seconds on the shot clock that’s OK as long as we get good looks. Also we’re starting to talk about if Nick Stapleton gets the ball we are going to run off Jakeway and make Stapleton give the ball up. So right now Craig is the guy, who has to run off.

4:11 left: Austin Peay 80 Eastern 70- Hassel hits a fade away

Samuels: This doesn’t break our backs. We are still within 10 at the four-minute mark.

3:57 left: Austin Peay 80 Eastern 72- Domercant lay-up

Samuels: We are scoring on every possession and we are still OK

3:33 left: Austin Peay 80 Eastern 72- Hassel misses

Samuels: This is great defense by Henry right here.

2:59 left: Austin Peay 82 Eastern 74- Thompson hits two free throws.

Samuels: We are hoping to get at least one point here, and Thompson gave us two. Plus we score with the clock stopped.

2:31 left: Austin Peay 82 Eastern 76- Kelly dunks

Samuels: Their defense is closing down now. They are too consumed with the two scorers, and we are getting other baskets.

1:58 left: Austin Peay 82 Eastern 78- Lewis lay-up

Samuels: I’m excited, but were still telling Craig to be aware on defense.

1:23 left Austin Peay 82 Eastern 80- Hill lay-up

Samuels: There I think they sense how deep a trouble they are in, because they don’t want to foul him.

45.4 left: Austin Peay 83 Eastern 82- Samuels feels his team can win

Samuels: The key was our guys are alive now and their guys aren’t.

21.3 left: Austin Peay 83 Eastern 82- Jakeaway misses open look

Samuels: Our gamble of running off Jakeaway pays off.

Braviere: Right here, and I know you’ve said that you have seen this many times does it get sweeter every time at this point in the tape?

Samuels: Yes. The miracle of it all becomes more evident every time I watch it.

0.6 left: Eastern 84 Austin Peay 83- Haymon goal tends Thompson’s shot

Samuels: YES!

Braviere: When that first happened, and granted they said it was goal tending, but did you think it was or wasn’t?

Samuels: You know I never thought it was, or how could they not call that. I just thought once the whistle blew we’re in.

After the game Samuels greets Austin Peay coach Dave Loos at mid-court:

Samuels: This is amazing here, you understand. I’m crying inside and I have to put on straight face and congratulate another coach who is dying inside. And I truly feel bad for coach Loos and his players.

Camera shows Samuels alone and looking in the crowd:

Samuels: Right here I’m looking for my family. And it’s not like Jim Valvano, but I’m looking for someone to hug.