hate to be too critical, but i thought this group had a rough game: several questionable calls; some seemingly obvious ones not called. i didnt get the feeling that they completely trusted one another- middle and trail seemed to be working the same area quite often. what did you see?

Duke/MD
 

I wonder whether the referees of this game would be more willing to admit they fixed this game than admit they called it as bad as they did. Just like Billy Packer they fell victim to the Duke Blue Devils. I could cite so many awful calls this crew made. To take Baxter out of the game on such a shady call is bogus. Yes, as the old cliche goes, the officials unfortunately decided this game. Thanks!

Typical ACC fan who doesn't pull for Duke or Carolina
 

Maryland had their opportunites and didn't take advantage of them. I guess the officials accounted for Maryland shooting 34% from the field and 62% from the FT line in the second half. The probably also caused Maryland to turn the ball over 14 more times than Duke too. They even out rebounded Duke 50 to 34 and still couldn't win. No team should ever lose a game that they're up 22 points on.

You sound like a whining fan. $10 says you aren't an official. Go join the other whiners at http://www.accboards.com

Re: Duke/MD
 

The refs did not take Baxter out of the game. They called a foul. It was a small contact, but gave Baxter a BIG advantage, and needed to be called. From the replay, it was obvious that Baxter was both pushing and holding with his elbows and Boozer was illegally taken out of the play. I can't see that this is shady. If Baxter had not already had four fouls, this one wouldn't have been his fifth. Were they all shady, too?

what made it look trivial was the next possession down the court the other way - big collision, two players on the floor, no whistle. my son asked me why such small contact was a foul but the big contact was not whistled. good point

Re: Duke/MD
 

I strongly disagree that the officials "decided the game" because they never do, but I do agree with you about the fifth foul on Baxter. On the replay he was definitely trying to gain position, but his actions didn't warrant a whistle. The fact that it was his fifth just adds salt to the wound.

Although the 5th foul Baxter was rather soft to question the integrity of Libbey's crew is ridiculous.

Um, if you recall there was a whistle and Maryland went and shot freethrows for it. There was just such a lapse in time that you may have forgotten why they shot them.

Duke/Maryland officials reply
 

I hate to be critical myself, but after reading some comments on this forum I feel I have no choice. Ted Hillary is a good friend of mine and I think the people that is rakeing Ted, Dave Libbey, and Mark Reischling are not doing the right thing. Yes, this game did not go smoothly. But, I impose this question? Could any one us put together in a three man crew in such a profile game do any better? Just a food for thought.

Re: Duke/Maryland officials reply
 

I agree John,
Why beat up on a guy until you have driven 100 miles in his own Cadillac?
mick

Re: Typical ACC fan who doesn't pull for Duke or Carolina
 

What is your point? I was talking about the officiating and you're talking about statistics. Besides, in half of your reply, you're pointing out how poorly Maryland played and the other half you're talking about how they should have won because they outplayed Duke (by outrebounding them.) No I'm not an official but I have every right to make a comment here. Makes sense that you are considering you made no sense in your reply. No team that has a lead of 22 should lose? You're right there, unless the other team receives some help from the officials.

Re: Re: Typical ACC fan who doesn't pull for Duke or Carolina
 

My point is that Maryland was up 22 points, outrebounded the Blue Devils for the game, yet played so poorly the last 20 minutes of the game that they deserved to lose. I cited the reasons they lost. You didn't. If the officials caused the Terps to lose, then list 10 things they did to make them lose. In your first post, you stated that the game was fixed by the officials. Are you really so stupid as to believe that?

I stated that I knew you weren't an official because your comments are typical of a sour grapes fan. However, this board is for those who enjoy the avocation of officiating and those who have questions about officiating and the rules. Neither you nor I nor anyone else has a right to be here. The moderators of this forum own it and can kick any of us off at anytime. Start slamming and whining about the officials costing your team a win and I guarantee, they'll kick your butt out of here so fast you'll think you're Rasheed Wallace.

If you want to whine about officials, this is not the place to do it.

But, but, but . . . the First Amendement gives me freedom of speech - even on privately held discussion boards on the internet!!

First Amendment......
 

only protects you against the government and the tyranny of the government because of what you say. It does not apply to this board or other places.

Thank you Mark & JRut for making the point (Mark was being sarcastic by the way Rut)...

This is not an officials bashing board... I agree with the sentiments expressed earlier - could you have officiated a better game?

Until I'm working the NCAA Championship Game, I think that I am going to refrain from critiquing the officials working the Semi-Final games.

I'm closing this before it gets ugly. :)