UNC/Kansas

[Nate1224hoops]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

I'm not so much accusing them conciously/purposefully of helping UNC back in the game. Its pretty common for officials to shift all close calls to favor a team that is getting pounded...it can be a good practice to manage the game. I'm not saying they did any different. I've done it and I don't know if there is an official who hasn't done it. It was looking like the game was over. However, care has to be taken to not do that too early...especially when the game has impact that this one does. In doing it too early myself, I've seen a team turn it around and threaten to win. Would they have done so without my earlier favorable calls? Maybe, maybe not, but I sure helped them. Now, I wait a little longer before shifting the threshold of the close calls. Would UNC have turned it around without some of those generous calls? Maybe. But they did get the benefit of a few.

And wow, we as officials are all wrong. We thought that when idiot coaches yell at us about cheating their team, that they knew nothing about the game. According to Mr. Rust he makes practice of awarding the team that is behind with close calls. YIKES!!! I often officiate some youth league games, so to say that I have never done this would be lying. Last week, youth tournament, 4-5th grade girls...team down 32-6...I point the same direction on every held ball and every close out of bounds play. I think everyone understood. To do this at the varsity level or in this case the Elite 8 is IGNORANT!!! I doubt that there was one person in that building or in front of the TV that didn't think Carolina would make a run. They had the highest scoring offense in the country.

On one hand you want to say it's okay to do what you think the officials did (which was slant calls in Carolina's favor) and in the next breathe say I think I would have waited a little longer (lol...40-12) and then hold the officials accountable for the score "being close." Thats NUTS!!

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Nate1224hoops

And wow, we as officials are all wrong. We thought that when idiot coaches yell at us about cheating their team, that they knew nothing about the game. According to Mr. Rust he makes practice of awarding the team that is behind with close calls. YIKES!!! I often officiate some youth league games, so to say that I have never done this would be lying. Last week, youth tournament, 4-5th grade girls...team down 32-6...I point the same direction on every held ball and every close out of bounds play. I think everyone understood. To do this at the varsity level or in this case the Elite 8 is IGNORANT!!!

I suggest you watch more games then. While some here may not want to admit it, it happens at all levels....but usually only in the last 3-5 minutes of a blowout. I absolutely give any benefit of doubt in late game calls to a team that is getting crushed...even in varsity game. I'm not talking about seeing things only in favor of one team. I'm not talking about flipping every AP possessoin or obvious OOB calls as you suggest in kids games, but close calls....a bang-bang block/charge, OOB calls with both sets of hands in the mix. One team thinks they're getting the short end of the stick, no need to shorten it further. Manage the game and get it over with while doing things to keep the involved parties from losing their heads.

Originally Posted by Nate1224hoops

I doubt that there was one person in that building or in front of the TV that didn't think Carolina would make a run. They had the highest scoring offense in the country.

On one hand you want to say it's okay to do what you think the officials did (which was slant calls in Carolina's favor) and in the next breathe say I think I would have waited a little longer (lol...40-12) and then hold the officials accountable for the score "being close." Thats NUTS!!

There are calls that are right only if at the right time. We make or don't make calls all the time based on the situation. There are calls that might be "right" that are wrong for the game. There are calls that are "wrong" that are right for the game. If it were a 28 point game with 4 minutes to go in the 2nd, the calls would not have even elicited a comment from me....I would have expected it. With teams capable of covering the deficit, you don't do it.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

He had an excellent year and should be congratulated, but to listen to some you'd think he's the hardest working, most competitive guy to ever grace the college scene by a long shot. I just don't buy into that hype.

If you think that, then that's you're problem. I haven't read or heard anyone say that. There's no hype regarding his work ethic. You simply have no idea WTF you're talking about.

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

If you think that, then that's you're problem. I haven't read or heard anyone say that. There's no hype regarding his work ethic. You simply have no idea WTF you're talking about.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

If you think that, then that's you're problem. I haven't read or heard anyone say that. There's no hype regarding his work ethic. You simply have no idea WTF you're talking about.

I actually have heard that, from his coach. He compared his focus and intensity to Michael Jordan's.

Here's what I could find on the fly:

"He does the same thing in practice every day," Williams said. "The young man is the most driven, most focused youngster I've ever seen in my life to try to be the best player he can be and to help his team win," Williams said.

That's awfully high praise, considering how many great players Williams has coached. Louisville coach Rick Pitino compared Hansbrough's drive to that of the greatest players in the history of the game, even Michael Jordan. Said Pitino, "Certainly, he doesn't have all of those skills of those superstars. But, just like shooting, rebounding, playing defense and passing are skills, working hard is an acquired skill."

The quote I heard from Williams actually mentioned Jordan directly.

[BktBallRef]

Where did jdw, or whatever the hell his name, is comment about anything Coach Williams said? He wrote, "I think most people are actually frustrated with the excessive media coverage of him - not because he's not good, but because some in the media have made him out to be so much more than he is. He had an excellent year and should be congratulated, but to listen to some you'd think he's the hardest working, most competitive guy to ever grace the college scene by a long shot. I just don't buy into that hype."

Even though coaches will always brag on their kids, I would expect Coach Williams to know more about Hansbrough than jdw. Even I know that Jordan is one of the most competitive players to ever play the game. But I also know he did not work as hard in college as Hansbrough does. Michael's talent was much more God given. Tyler has had to work harder for his.

All this stuff about Hansbrough and the NBA is bu11$hit. Even NBA scouts don't agree on how effective he will be. To illustrate, how many D-1 coaches passed Stephen Curry?

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Where did jdw, or whatever the hell his name, is comment about anything Coach Williams said? He wrote, "I think most people are actually frustrated with the excessive media coverage of him - not because he's not good, but because some in the media have made him out to be so much more than he is. He had an excellent year and should be congratulated, but to listen to some you'd think he's the hardest working, most competitive guy to ever grace the college scene by a long shot. I just don't buy into that hype."

Even though coaches will always brag on their kids, I would expect Coach Williams to know more about Hansbrough than jdw. Even I know that Jordan is one of the most competitive players to ever play the game. But I also know he did not work as hard in college as Hansbrough does. Michael's talent was much more God given. Tyler has had to work harder for his.

All this stuff about Hansbrough and the NBA is bu11$hit. Even NBA scouts don't agree on how effective he will be. To illustrate, how many D-1 coaches passed Stephen Curry?

Wow, pretty fired up BktBallRef. All I was saying is that the media coverage has been excessive in covering his work ethic and desire. I said earlier, I really like Hansbrough, believe he deserved POY honors, and enjoy watching him play.

But, if you don't believe his "work ethic" and "want-to" have been hiped to an extreme, I guess we've been watching different TV. I think it's what makes his critics more passionate than they would be otherwise.

[BktBallRef]

The people who are running their mouths aren't critics, they're ABC'ers. That's why they're critical of him.

[Nate1224hoops]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

Wow, pretty fired up BktBallRef. All I was saying is that the media coverage has been excessive in covering his work ethic and desire. I said earlier, I really like Hansbrough, believe he deserved POY honors, and enjoy watching him play.

But, if you don't believe his "work ethic" and "want-to" have been hiped to an extreme, I guess we've been watching different TV. I think it's what makes his critics more passionate than they would be otherwise.

This is where I will agree and disagree. Tyler's work ethic has been broadcast a lot. Now, your a smart guy. Let's think about how many excellent players that Coach Williams has coached...a bunch. I don't think he is going to make up things about Tyler's work ethic that are not true. He had a kid on the 05 team, Rashad McCants, that was one of the most talented offensive players to play at UNC and you didn't hear Roy say anything about him, other than he didn't apply himself enough. You don't hear Beasley coach talking about his work ethic. Beasley has talent..a trait that will take him a long way...but until he learns to develop that work ethic he will be no more than a middle of the road NBA player. The point I'm making about Tyler is that his work ethic, as commented on by Pitino, is like few that have ever played the game. That alone will lead to a productive career and big bucks. I heard a comment from Roy that last year when he set his career high in scoring (i think agains GT), it was a Friday or Saturday game in which he scored 42 points, that Tyler was up and in the gym by 7am by himself and worked on his game for about 2 hrs.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

...To illustrate, how many D-1 coaches passed Stephen Curry?

Curry was all but begging to go to Virginia Tech and Greenburg didn't want him.