From one of our local pundits
 

NCAA tournament: Refs should adjust in games’ final minutes

I wouldn't want you all to get the wrong impression but I only read this digital rag to get sports scores and horse racing results.


And to think she has the chutzpah to opine about real sports, not just the wimmens!


http://http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/ncaa-tournament-refs-should-adjust-in-games-final-minutes/2012/03/21/gIQAYes9RS_story.html

See if this works: NCAA tournament: Refs should adjust in games’ final minutes - The Washington Post

What they're really saying is basketball games should have different rules when the results matter.

Stupid journalists.

Stupid? I don't think so. Heavily flawed? Absolutely. And, the foundation lies in this myopic myth from the article...

Here's are two realities of basketball I've come to learn:
*A game is never decided by one play. It is always decided by the totality of the 32/40/48 minutes (plus overtime, if applicable). If one play decided a game, you wouldn't need the other minutes.

*Every single time there's a one-point game, without exception, it's inevitable that the officials have done something -- via action or inaction -- to affect the outcome. Way too much goes on within the game's time span not to be the case.

So, why do we buy into this myth? It really comes down to human memory capacity. We can only remember so much, and we just can't take in all 60-100 possessions. Therefore, when a controversial call happens in a game's closing minutes, it's still typically fresh in people's minds. However, if a call is kicked in the first half, people get mad for 5-10 seconds, but just move onto the next play.

In truth, the smaller the score's margin, the greater chance an official's rulings -- be they in the beginning, middle, or end of a game -- will affect that game's outcome. While those look at Notre Dame/Xavier, I guarantee you that there were rulings in other close games that affected that game just as much.

There's only one thing I agreed with in the article...

I wouldn't mind seeing a lane violation being ignored, for both teams, if the free throw is made. Realistically, there was no impact on the violation in the Xavier game. Now the call was correct, and since the violation was so clear and obvious, it had to be called...but I'd like a rule change to ignore if the free throw is made.

I agree, with the exception of a violation by the shooter.

If the free throw shooter entered in early after releasing the ball, I wouldn't have an issue there either if he makes the free throw.

Things like faking a throw and actually shooting the ball on the line, I'd say enforce when violated.

Come on Coach, we really know you read it only for the horse racing results, ;).

MTD, Sr.

I don't agree with that concept. The rule should stay as written if the offense violates first. It wouldn't matter if the defense violates thats what the delayed signal is for.

Only for defensive lane violations. Offensive should, by rule, called immediately when the player commits the violation.

Why? What advantage did the Xavier kid gain by entering in early on a made free throw?

It doesn't matter he left before the release from the shooter. He should been disciplined enough not to do that. It may have been a delay on the official behalf to process and make the call but it was the right call.

There is an requirement for the defense make or miss the same must apply for the offense as well.

There may be unintended consequences, such as more players crashing the boards early, taking a risk they won't get caught, and knowing they wouldn't be penalized, anyway, if the shot it good. The point of the rule is to prevent such early crashes.

:rolleyes:
Is that comment really necessary?

I'm not talking bout that actual ruling in the Xavier game and whether it should have or not been called. It was a clear and obvious violation and had to be called. Doesn't mean I don't think the rule is stupid.

Then call the foul. Even then, I doubt it would lead to what you propose.

As is, someone mentioned in another thread that the FIBA rule for free throws is the same as what I propose. They don't seem to have an issue with it.