Last-possession no-calls

This is not a "complaining about the refs" blog. I just found it interesting with all the conversation lately about refs swallowing their whistles in the very last few seconds of games, now a media source has also brought it up:

http://acc.blogs.starnewsonline.com/34989/beyond-the-arc-improving-acc-turning-up-the-heat

2. Last-possession no-calls: It's ironic that John Clougherty is the ACC's director of officials, since he is best known for calling a foul in the final seconds of an overtime national championship game. Apparently, his current officials haven't grasped the concept that if it's a foul in the first 39 minutes, 55 seconds of a game, it's still a foul in the final five seconds. Last week, they allowed Miami's Reggie Johnson to shove N.C. State's Richard Howell out of the way for the game-winning tip-in. Tuesday, they swallowed their whistles again as FSU's Michael Snaer clearly shoved Georgia Tech's Mfon Udofia out of the way to set up his winning drive at the buzzer. So much for letting the players decide the game.

Add to this list the Duke-BC game where a Duke player (Cook, I believe?) shoved one BC player out of bounds and appeared to undercut another BC player that was fighting for the rebound.

Let me make something clear: I'm not complaining about any of these calls (er, NO-calls). I'm talking about this in a matter-of-fact fashion, and I have a theory about it that I have posted in other blogs. When I saw this article, I thought I'd write a dedicated blog post about it and get peoples' opinions.

I believe in these close games, refs will call it correctly up until the point where the team that is behind misses their shot. I believe the refs will let the team have their shot, and if they miss, well it is up to them to scrap it out, get the rebound and power it up and into the basket. I think they're willing to let the last five seconds play out like a rugby match.

More in the next post (running out of space)...

RE: Last-possession no-calls

TBK Im with you but you are just baiting the trolls. It's a shame that trolls are all that is on this board. I remember just a few years ago when it was a lot better, and ribbing was all in fun and games. Go look at the other boards there are no trolls and crazy post on them why ours?

RE: Last-possession no-calls

I don't have a problem with as long as they are consistent. Then the players on both teams know they have more latitude in the final seconds.

RE: Last-possession no-calls

In the State-Miami game, Miami was down a point with seconds remaining. They took their shot. They missed. At that point, I believe the refs were going to let BOTH teams get away with just about any level of physical contact short of a punch to the face. Howell got shoved in the back by a guy who then tapped in the game-winner. I honestly believe Howell could have also shoved him in a similar fashion and gotten away with it, too. We just happened to be on the receiving end of it that time.

In the Duke-BC game, the BC player also got his shot off. And missed. After that, the refs let the scrum ensue underneath, and it appeared that a Duke player had some HARD contact on not one, but TWO, BC players. No call. But again, I think the message from the refs is, "BC, you had your fair shot at the end. You missed. WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE THE GAME TO ANYBODY AFTER THAT!"

Same goes for the State-Miami game.

I'm actually OK with this, as long as they allow the team with the ball to get their fair shot off first. After that, with 5 or fewer seconds left, do what you gotta do. As long as this is how it is for BOTH teams in any given game, I'm OK with it.

RE: Last-possession no-calls

TBK Im with you but you are just baiting the trolls. It's a shame that trolls are all that is on this board. I remember just a few years ago when it was a lot better, and ribbing was all in fun and games. Go look at the other boards there are no trolls and crazy post on them why ours?
- Posted by jdpope3

I'm hoping I worded this in such a way that the trolls won't feel the need to troll as much. I'm not complaining about the officiating, just observing.

I actually think this is a very real phenomena, and teams that figure this out will have an advantage over teams that are expecting a last second call that isn't going to come.

RE: Last-possession no-calls

I don't have a problem with as long as they are consistent. Then the players on both teams know they have more latitude in the final seconds.
- Posted by 4tarheels

Exactly.

And so far, so good. Two people have posted besides me, and no trolling yet!

RE: Last-possession no-calls

Have you emailed Debbie or Gottfried? I mean, this is just a stunning discovery. If you play it right, you'll be able to retire next week!

RE: Last-possession no-calls

While it is your opinion, and I respect it, I do not agree with it. A foul is a foul and needs to be called regardless of the time it occurs. There should have been fouls called in both the State and Dook games. A team should not be punished for missing a shot. If you listen to any game, you hear the announcers say "Get the shot up with time for a rebound", if it is on the last posession of the game. It is not fair to punish one team, especially if the other team just shot free throws to take the lead.

RE: Last-possession no-calls

Have you emailed Debbie or Gottfried? I mean, this is just a stunning discovery. If you play it right, you'll be able to retire next week!
- Posted by Hans

Ding ding ding! We have a winner -- first troll that showed up was HANS!

Nobody saw THAT coming. I almost posted a comment suggesting that right about now is the time when Hans shows up with a troll comment. But I didn't want to derail the good thing we had going.

RE: Last-possession no-calls

I didn't mean to bruise your ego, TBK. Your investigation was very impressive.

RE: Last-possession no-calls

While it is your opinion, and I respect it, I do not agree with it. A foul is a foul and needs to be called regardless of the time it occurs. There should have been fouls called in both the State and Dook games. A team should not be punished for missing a shot. If you listen to any game, you hear the announcers say "Get the shot up with time for a rebound", if it is on the last posession of the game. It is not fair to punish one team, especially if the other team just shot free throws to take the lead.
- Posted by Tar Heels Victory-GO HEELS

Valid point, and I actually agree with you. I wish that is how it worked. I'm mainly just suggesting that this is how it APPEARS to work. We have three good examples here of refs swallowing their whistles. But I don't think it is happening to "hurt" any particular team. I think they are simply not wanting to get blamed for making what may be judged as a ticky-tack call that enabled a team to win a game. So I think they just let them play.

I wish it wasn't this way, but I'm OK with it.

WRAL Sports Fan