2026 NCAA tourney plays for videos

[JRutledge]

Discuss if this is a foul first of all and was this enough for a technical? Was this one act or ABS type of technical?



Peace

[JRutledge]

This is a very interesting play. I am shocked no one said a word about this play. This has many rules facets to this play.

Did they get this right?



Peace

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This is a very interesting play. I am shocked no one said a word about this play. This has many rules facets to this play.

Did they get this right?



Peace

1) Shot was not released on time, so clearly waving that off is the correct call.

2) No sound, so I can't tell if they ruled a foul on the original shot. If not, then it can't be reviewed. If so, then they can review to see if the foul happened before or after time expired and rule accordingly.

[frezer11]

I think I just saw a unicorn call in this Illinois/Houston game. I apologize I missed the exact time, but 4:30 or 5:00 left in 2nd half, a Houston shot is missed, and desperate for a rebound, a Houston player, I think, fists the ball back toward the backcourt. Didn't look like a volleyball open-hand type spike, but I can't be sure. Anyone else get eyes on that?

On a related note, has anyone called that before?

[frezer11]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

1) Shot was not released on time, so clearly waving that off is the correct call.

2) No sound, so I can't tell if they ruled a foul on the original shot. If not, then it can't be reviewed. If so, then they can review to see if the foul happened before or after time expired and rule accordingly.

They did call a foul on the play, but after review, that foul happens after time expires. That said, is there any discussion about a dead-ball tech for the contact that does happen after time expires? It seems like I've seen more dead ball contact techs called after replay review in this men's tourney than I've ever seen before.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

One of the most interesting backcourt calls you will ever see just happened in Kansas v St. John’s with 1:30 remaining in the first half.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Am I missing something?

Originally Posted by IUgrad92

Correct/Incorrect call? If it were a ball being saved from going OOB, and the same call made, obviously would have been incorrect.

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

There is more to this play than you are currently thinking. I believe that this video will lead to some excellent discussion.

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

If the player merely bats the ball to prevent it from entering the backcourt, then this is a legal play. However, if he catches the ball in one hand and deliberately throws it to the floor in the frontcourt, then this is the start of a dribble and the player has control of the ball. During a dribble a player is not permitted to step out of bounds or into the backcourt, even while he is not in contact with the ball. That is what we must determine. Clearly the official working the contest deemed this to be a catch and deliberate throw. Also, I do not believe that this could qualify as an interrupted dribble as that involves the ball temporarily getting away from the dribbler by accident. This player put the ball exactly where he wanted.

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

But, NFHS case 7.1.1D seems to be similar to this play, except OOB instead of BC, and it's allowed.

7.1.1 SITUATION D: A1 jumps from inbounds to retrieve an errant pass near a boundary line. A1
catches the ball while in the air, gaining player control, and tosses it back to the court. A1 lands
out of bounds and (a) is the first to touch the ball after returning inbounds; (b) returns inbounds
and immediately dribbles the ball; or (c) picks up the ball after returning to the court and then
begins a dribble. RULING: Legal in (a) and (b). Illegal in (c) as the controlled toss of the ball to
the court by A1 constitutes the start of a dribble, dribbling a second time after picking up the ball
is an illegal dribble violation.

Much discussion about this NCAA possible backcourt play at our table at our basketball referee banquet last night.

One of our guys actually had a similar play in his high school game a few weeks ago.

Regarding treating this as a dribble and player control, the NFHS does not define (4-9-1) the division line as a boundary (only the four perimeter lines are boundaries), and thus the dribbling near a boundary line and touching the boundary line with a foot while not contact with the ball (9-3-1-Note) does not apply to the division line.

4-9-1: Boundary lines of the court consist of end lines and sidelines.

9-3-1-Note: The dribbler has committed a violation if he/she steps on or outside a boundary, even though he/she is not touching the ball while he/she is out of bounds.

Could someone please explain to me exactly why this was called a backcourt violation?

NFHS Backcourt 9-9-1: A player shall not be the first to touch the ball after it has been in team control in the frontcourt, if he or a teammate last touched or was touched by the ball in the frontcourt before it went to the backcourt.

NBA and WNBA make this perfectly clear:

2024-25 NBA Rules Rule 4, Section VI.d(2): A ball being dribbled is in the backcourt if the ball or either foot of the player in in the backcourt.

2025 WNBA Rules Rule 4, Section VI.d(2): A ball being dribbled is in the backcourt if the ball or either foot of the player in in the backcourt.

Not so clear in NFHS.

I predicted this back in August 2026:

https://forum.officiating.com/basket...ml#post1054108

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by frezer11

They did call a foul on the play, but after review, that foul happens after time expires. That said, is there any discussion about a dead-ball tech for the contact that does happen after time expires? It seems like I've seen more dead ball contact techs called after replay review in this men's tourney than I've ever seen before.

1) NCAAW does not have a "Dead ball contact technical foul."

2) The contact does not rise to the level of Intentional of Flagrant. (NCAAW went back from the F1 / F2 designation a couple of years ago)

3) Personal fouls can only be called while the ball is live, or during the dead ball period following a basket.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by frezer11

They did call a foul on the play, but after review, that foul happens after time expires. That said, is there any discussion about a dead-ball tech for the contact that does happen after time expires? It seems like I've seen more dead ball contact techs called after replay review in this men's tourney than I've ever seen before.

No. It didn't rise to the level of intentional/flagrant dead ball contact.

It would have to be blatantly excessive or unnecessary contact to interject that into the game

If it were deemed so, would it affect whether or not the game went to OT?

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

[Raymond]

Any clips showing how Nebraska ending up with 4 players?

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Any clips showing how Nebraska ending up with 4 players?

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

I just came to this thread to post about that.
The details:
Nebraska v Iowa in the Sweet 16
Second half, one minute remaining, game resuming following a time-out.
Nebraska takes the court with only four players. Officials administer the throw-in to Iowa on the end line the backcourt.
Long pass results in an Iowa lay-up and a foul. The fifth player for Nebraska is standing out of bounds near the scorer’s table.

What is the NCAAM’s rule on this?
NFHS rule is 10-2-5.

[Indianaref]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Any clips showing how Nebraska ending up with 4 players?

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

[Nevadaref]

32.4 seconds left in the second half of Duke v St. John’s
Jersey hold against a player without the ball is called a common foul.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

32.4 seconds left in the second half of Duke v St. John’s
Jersey hold against a player without the ball is called a common foul.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge