A shoe in the hand is worth 2 in the bush?

[Nevadaref]

I too saw this play in the Cinci/Xavier game. Now you have to understand that I have had a great deal of experience as a soccer referee, so I am familiar with players losing shoes. In soccer if a player throws a shoe at the ball it is considered unsporting conduct and a caution is given. If a field player holds any object in his hand and strikes the ball it is considered a handball and also unsporting conduct. If the goalkeeper holds any object in his hand (a shoe, shinguard, stick, etc.) and strikes the ball while within his penalty area it is NOT considered a handball offense but it is still unsporting.

My immediate reaction to the basketball play was that if his shoe in his hand had contacted the ball, I would have charged a technical foul for unsporting conduct.

After reading this thread, I still would make that ruling.