Kentucky at Texas A&M Game Thread.

[Katmendo]

I called that slam every time. The situation doesn't matter.

And I would support it.

I'm on the record for giving officials their "fair share" (as if such a thing were possible, in such an emotional state), but that either IS or IS NOT something we need to some to a conclusion with, as fans. Take our team, or our personal children, out of the equation, and come to a consensus.

Folks, I hate that UK lost. And I think this crew had a very, very, poor game, but that ONE call is absolutely, IMO, the right call.

Let me define it this way,... IF that play was ***NOT*** a T, for any reason, then how many plays, throughout the course of the game, could ANY PLAYER do the same thing without it becoming game altering, or completely disrupting? How HIGH would the ball have to go? How many times could it bounce? Could a player celebrate that way if they WEREN'T involved in the play (Off the ball foul?)? Could they do that in minute 1?

I say no. I don't want my child being taught that kind of display, and I won't endorse it for the sake of UK.

Like it or not, part of personal, and player, development for ALL PEOPLE, in ALL PHASES OF LIFE, is self control. Humphries was excited and showed it, and learned a life experience. The game wasn't decided on that play, but it was made more consequential by the incredibly poor... Ehh,.. how about consistently inconsistent calls prior to it.

[Dwight Schrute]

I have looked the rule book over, and in a hurried way, and can't find the rule about slamming the ball to the court. But, it has been a rule ever since I started officiating 40 some years ago, and at every level. Slamming the ball to the court and immediately catching it is not an automatic T although it could be. But slamming the ball to the court and not catching it has always been a T, and it makes no difference why the ball was slammed. It has never been a judgement call.

I will continue to look at the other books on the rules and see if I can find anything, Maybe in the Case book, or the officials manual.

Sorry, but you don't call that then. You just don't.

[J.Jennings]

And I would support it.

I'm on the record for giving officials their "fair share" (as if such a thing were possible, in such an emotional state), but that either IS or IS NOT something we need to some to a conclusion with, as fans. Take our team, or our personal children, out of the equation, and come to a consensus.

Folks, I hate that UK lost. And I think this crew had a very, very, poor game, but that ONE call is absolutely, IMO, the right call.

Let me define it this way,... IF that play was ***NOT*** a T, for any reason, then how many plays, throughout the course of the game, could ANY PLAYER do the same thing without it becoming game altering, or completely disrupting? How HIGH would the ball have to go? How many times could it bounce? Could a player celebrate that way if they WEREN'T involved in the play (Off the ball foul?)? Could they do that in minute 1?

I say no. I don't want my child being taught that kind of display, and I won't endorse it for the sake of UK.

Like it or not, part of personal, and player, development for ALL PEOPLE, in ALL PHASES OF LIFE, is self control. Humphries was excited and showed it, and learned a life experience. The game wasn't decided on that play, but it was made more consequential by the incredibly poor... Ehh,.. how about consistently inconsistent calls prior to it.

And that was the stupidest call i have ever seen. Emotions are part of the game and he did absolutely nothing wrong. If he broke the rule, then its the dumbest rule in the book. Nba ,NFL,MLB and players in all sports show emotions. Humphries played his tail off and the refs helped Texas steal this game in my opinion. ....

[Matt Dillon]

And I would support it.

I'm on the record for giving officials their "fair share" (as if such a thing were possible, in such an emotional state), but that either IS or IS NOT something we need to some to a conclusion with, as fans. Take our team, or our personal children, out of the equation, and come to a consensus.

Folks, I hate that UK lost. And I think this crew had a very, very, poor game, but that ONE call is absolutely, IMO, the right call.

Let me define it this way,... IF that play was ***NOT*** a T, for any reason, then how many plays, throughout the course of the game, could ANY PLAYER do the same thing without it becoming game altering, or completely disrupting? How HIGH would the ball have to go? How many times could it bounce? Could a player celebrate that way if they WEREN'T involved in the play (Off the ball foul?)? Could they do that in minute 1?

I say no. I don't want my child being taught that kind of display, and I won't endorse it for the sake of UK.

Like it or not, part of personal, and player, development for ALL PEOPLE, in ALL PHASES OF LIFE, is self control. Humphries was excited and showed it, and learned a life experience. The game wasn't decided on that play, but it was made more consequential by the incredibly poor... Ehh,.. how about consistently inconsistent calls prior to it.

Great post, in my opinion. I agree completely.

[Matt Dillon]

More so than for the other team members or the fans, I feel bad for Humphries.

[Joneslab]

I am more disappointed in the inequality of the over-the-back call the entire game than the one technical that may or may not should have been called. It simply was not the same on both ends.

Yes.

Also quite a few walking calls that were missed. Their big man shuffled his feet all night.

Someone said that the Marcus Lee walk was a bad call. I don't know as I haven't seen it in slow motion, but it was a huge play in the game.

[Joneslab]

Let me define it this way,... IF that play was ***NOT*** a T, for any reason, then how many plays, throughout the course of the game, could ANY PLAYER do the same thing without it becoming game altering, or completely disrupting? How HIGH would the ball have to go? How many times could it bounce? Could a player celebrate that way if they WEREN'T involved in the play (Off the ball foul?)? Could they do that in minute 1?

The thing about this is that they let a lot of stuff go during a game that could be a technical foul.

There was a play in that game where Ulis and another player were taunting each other inches from the other's face. Ulis went out of his way to scream at the guy. No T.

I was watching the '94-'95 SEC Tournament championship on YouTube the other night. Pitino rushes out onto the floor to hug the players when there's still time on the clock. The officials have to get him and some other UK players back to the bench to finish the game. Arkansas people were calling for a technical...which wasn't called.

I think there are a few instances in any game where they could call a T but don't. There are also times where they could call worse than a T but don't. In the Louisville and Duke game yesterday a UofL player clearly threw punches but was allowed to stay in the game.

All of this stuff is judgment.

[Matt Dillon]

One of the announcers last night, I don't recall which one, said most of the blocking fouls that were called, on both teams, were actually charging fouls.

[justafan]

Regarding calls - slamming the ball has always been a T, its clearly a judgement call that all refs share. I've never NOT seen it called. That being said, Lighthouse said its a safety thing, what if it bounced and hit another player. We can play the what-if game with other ones. What if I slam the ball and catch it - not T, but we can say what if I did NOT catch the ball? Same sort of what-if. The slam did NOT hit a player so you can say it was "ok". I catch the ball, so it was "ok". Again, I am not complaining about the call.

What I am curious about is the over/on the back call or lack of call. It seems to me that it is inconsistent at best (not talking just this game). If a 7-0 player is "blocked out" by Ulis (5-9) and rebounds "over" Ulis without touching him in any way, is that "over the back" ? It seems I have seen "over the back" as well as "on the back" (clearly a foul) called. I am not just talking what the announcers say. I have also seen "over the back" not called when it seems there is no contact.

[Joneslab]

One of the announcers last night, I don't recall which one, said most of the blocking fouls that were called, on both teams, were actually charging fouls.

Bilas has been all over the refs for years about how easy it is in college basketball to get a charge. All you have to do is basically fall down. This is especially true for the home team, it seems. Crowd goes wild after charges and I think this adds to how poorly it's called and why they can't seem to tell when a guy is falling on purpose and when he's been knocked down.

I did think Briscoe's was probably a charge because he got his shoulder down. But the guy still threw his body backward, which they always do. (Kentucky does this quite a bit too to try and get push-offs from the guards. Briscoe is kind of a master at this.)

[justafan]

One of the announcers last night, I don't recall which one, said most of the blocking fouls that were called, on both teams, were actually charging fouls.

Actually I think Bilas was saying just the opposite, that the most of the charges called were in fact blocking.

[Joneslab]

What I am curious about is the over/on the back call or lack of call. It seems to me that it is inconsistent at best (not talking just this game). If a 7-0 player is "blocked out" by Ulis (5-9) and rebounds "over" Ulis without touching him in any way, is that "over the back" ? It seems I have seen "over the back" as well as "on the back" (clearly a foul) called. I am not just talking what the announcers say. I have also seen "over the back" not called when it seems there is no contact.

That Ulis call may've been the worst in the game. It was especially bad because it had no bearing on the play whatsoever. The ball had caromed away when we were going to rebound it and then the whistle blew.

There was also a call around that time that I swear came about eight seconds late.

[Matt Dillon]

Actually I think Bilas was saying just the opposite, that the most of the charges called were in fact blocking.

You could be right. I'd have to hear it again to be sure.

[justafan]

That Ulis call may've been the worst in the game. It was especially bad because it had no bearing on the play whatsoever. The ball had caromed away when we were going to rebound it and then the whistle blew.

There was also a call around that time that I swear came about eight seconds late.

Oh, you're talking the play where Ulis WAS blocking out a taller player and was called for "corralling" the taller player with his arms? Yea, that seemed unnecessary. But, just so we're clear I was talking a hypothetical.

[Joneslab]

You could be right. I'd have to hear it again to be sure.

He is right. Bilas was holding forth on that issue right after those two charging calls. Kentucky got one when Ulis slid under, and then the guy set up on Briscoe on the block and got one for TAMU.