Are you talking about the no-call where the announcer proceeded to explain the irrelevant 3 points rule?

It wasn't irrelevant. He was reacting to the noise the crowd was making in the arena. For us it was irrelevant because we know the rule. For most people watching the game it was relevant because they were probably thinking "hey, that was a backcourt violation."

I believe Snaq means that since the player wasn't dribbling (if I remember correctly), then the 3 points rule doesn't apply.

As they say "tape don't lie." I thought he had another dribble as he crossed the division line. Turns out he was ending his dribble.

I was also planning the mention the travel by the Alabama post player but that's another rant for another time.

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It's was close enough for this situation.

Clark Kellogg has become my favorite analyst, period. While most are sloppy with rules knowledge, he is always sharp.

Game Over
 

Charles Barkley's rant on Friday night takes the cake. I can't imagine any other talking head coming close to his idiotic comments.

just from a fans standpoint. I constantly see on here how coach's, players, analysts are always wrong about rules...of course, thats why your getting PAID to be there. Start telling people the rules then they will know.

Like the free throw violation. I havent seen it called all year long, even though its the correct call. So naturally after it happens, i assume there was some meeting to focus on it, and its called again today. When generally I would think watching travels, holds, etc would be more of a focus. But the point is, dont you generally step when games are physical and say something like "watch the hands"....why not do it on the free throw, you should explain to them, because you shouldnt want them to committ the violation...afterall they are all so uneducated about it. If you dont like people infering differently TELL THEM

Oh boy...first fanboy of the Tournament.

Coaches are paid to coach. Part of that is knowing the rules and coaching your kids.

TV talking heads are paid to announce the game. They includes understanding the game, therefore, the rules.

Officials do practice preventive officiating. Every time I step into the lane, I say, "Wait 'til it hits." Guess what? Basketball players are rocket scientists. They still violate.

You're kidding? Right?

If a D-I college player doesn't know that rule, he has no-one to blame but himself. High school players know that rule!


Regarding Kellogg, he debunks the myths that others perpetuate.

Coaches and analysts get paid to be there as well. You would think that a coach would want to know the rules of the game to the benefit of himself and his team. You'd also think that an analyst would want to know the rules so that he could speak intelligently about the game being broadcast. Players aren't paid (:D), but it would behoove them to know the rules as well — of course, most of them (like coaches and analysts) think they know all of the rules just because they have been around the game for a long time.

We should tell these people the rules and they'll just listen, right? You've obviously never had one of these conversations. I've had plenty of instances where a coach was just adamant about his knowledge of a rule, but was dead wrong.

Bottom line: It's their responsibility to educate themselves, not mine.

I think the referee did say something afterwards and players and coaches are always allowed to ask reasonable, respectful questions about a ruling. It's not our job to warn players about every potential infraction they might incur —*it's their job to know the rules of the game and play accordingly.

The free throw violations were clear and obvious — it doesn't take any focus to call those really. They just don't happen that often, so automatically fans/coaches/analysts/Charles Barkley think that we are wrong on the rule, wrong to call it, etc, etc. One headline over the weekend deemed the lane violation an "unusual call" ... it's not an unusual call — it's an unusual PLAY. Don't blame the ref for making the call —*blame the player for making a boneheaded play. (BTW —*the rule is the same in high school and junior high, so these players should have known about this for many, many years)

As far as the analysts/broadcasters are concerned, they are briefed on rules and rule changes at the start of every season. You know how they handle that briefing? They don't pay attention, at least that's what I've been told by coordinators on both the men's and women's side. I work in TV and I've worked with some of these folks. They'd rather shoot from the hip than be correct.

I have a friend I went to grad school with who has always been grateful when I helped her with a rule situation via e-mail because she wants to be entertaining and intelligent but her ethic is the exception rather than the rule.

Regarding the FT violation, you haven't seen it because most of the kids have sense enough not to do it. Remember, these are college basketball players. It's not as though they just started playing the game last month. I won't say all of the kids know the rule because they don't. I will say, though, that many of the kids are aware of it...especially the guards because they don't always line up on the lane for a FT.

Also, there wouldn't be any need to have "some meeting" to focus on it. In that situation, where a team really needs a rebound, we're going to be that much more alert to players trying to gain an advantage. Of course, given how obvious the violations were it didn't take a whole lot to see them.

Shoot, I've had conversations with fans and coaches about rules and when they realize they are wrong their response is "well I don't like that rule" or "that shouldn't be the rule" and therefore the official is still wrong.