[nakemiin]

I've read this thread (or at least most of it), and frankly while I think the discussion has been pertinent to the specific event, and that the comments for the most part of rationale and considered, I think we are missing the salient point.

The game was neither won nor lost on this single refereeing error -- but rather because of many events during the game. The game is not a 4.4 second game, but a 40 minute game. And thoroughout those 40 minutes numerous calls are made by the referees -- some good, some bad, some favoring one team, some favoring the other. In the Duke-Clemson game I saw at least 5 calls that were (in my opinion, but operating under an understanding of the rules) questionable at best, outright wrong at worst. One of the most egregious was a blocking foul on Duke, which resulted in a 3point play for Clemson. Re-looking at the tape of the game it was clearly a bad call -- giving Clemson 3 unwarranted points.

Where's the outrage over that call? Had it been called correctly the issue of the time at the end of the game would have been moot.

Unfortunately basketball is a fast game, referees are human, and some calls require split second judgment. Let's not dissect any single mistake by the officials, but rather emphasize the pattern of errors by specific individuals and then get them out of the game. But done blame Duke -- they played by the rules, lived with the vagaries of the refs and (this time) were fortunate to win.

...and in the end it's just a game -- and a great one at that, even with all its problems.

jbc