The official NCAA tournament thread

[rowech]

Unfortunate UK ended up being poor sports afterwards. They seemed to be a good group of kids from what I had seen (granted not much). They seemed to all talk about wanting the title, not caring about undefeated, etc. They just wanted the trophy. Good news! You can all come back and try for it again! Surely, if it's that important, they will all be back to pursue it.

[MizzouRah]

Go Wisconsin!

[hoopsguy]

Math suggests Calipari cost his team as well. By math, I mean Nate Silver.
Coach Cal Blew It | FiveThirtyEight (http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/coach-cal-blew-it/)

[TroyF]

UK players keeping it classy

Andrew Harrison on Frank Kaminsky after Kentucky's loss to Wisconsin: 'F*** that n****' - SBNation.com (http://www.sbnation.com/2015/4/5/8346723/kentuckys-andrew-harrison-on-frank-kaminsky-after-kentuckys-loss-to)

And willie cauley stein, who by all accounts is a good guy, walking off the court and to the locker room as soon as the final buzzer hits

God forbid that happens going back the other way. Kaminsky would have been suspended for the Championship game and labeled a racist for the rest of his life. Sharpton and Jackson would be calling for the dismissal of Ryan (because he clearly leads a team of racists).

For the record, I would be for the suspension of the Wisconsin player and would have no problem with it being a big story. The issue is it should be a big story no matter who does it.

[larrymcg421]

It's so difficult being white these days.

[Lathum]

It's so difficult being white these days.

Doesn't mean a double standard is ok.

[nol]

God forbid that happens going back the other way. Kaminsky would have been suspended for the Championship game and labeled a racist for the rest of his life. Sharpton and Jackson would be calling for the dismissal of Ryan (because he clearly leads a team of racists).

For the record, I would be for the suspension of the Wisconsin player and would have no problem with it being a big story. The issue is it should be a big story no matter who does it.

No, if the tables were turned it would blow over fairly quickly, drowned out by a tsunami of "rabble rabble rabble it was a setup by the race-baiting media that microphone shouldn't have been on rabble rabble rabble if a black guy said it to a white guy Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson wouldn't care one bit."

[TroyF]

It's so difficult being white these days.

No, it isn't. Being a white man in the United States is about the easiest damned existence that anyone could have in the entirety of human history. Seriously, you take the billions of people who have been on this Earth, being a white guy in the United States gives me a better life than 99.999999999999999% of anyone who ever existed. The fact I was born straight also helps me out a great deal. I don't say any of that with any sarcasm at all. I get that my lot in life could be massively worse and not a lot better.

But NONE of what I wrote above means we should support a double standard where if one guy makes a racial comment it is blown off and if another guy does it would have caused his coach to be under pressure and 10 CNN articles about the racist Wisconsin basketball team. If we are going to hammer 19 year olds for using improper language, it shouldn't matter what their skin color happens to be.

[TroyF]

No, if the tables were turned it would blow over fairly quickly, drowned out by a tsunami of "rabble rabble rabble it was a setup by the race-baiting media that microphone shouldn't have been on rabble rabble rabble if a black guy said it to a white guy Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson wouldn't care one bit."

No, it would not have blown over quickly. you are correct what some of the commentators would have said. Those outlets would correctly be overrun by the other side. There is pretty much ZERO chance that a player making a racial insult to an opponent after the game could be blamed on race baiting media by anything other than borderline KKK members.

[rowech]

No, it isn't. Being a white man in the United States is about the easiest damned existence that anyone could have in the entirety of human history. Seriously, you take the billions of people who have been on this Earth, being a white guy in the United States gives me a better life than 99.999999999999999% of anyone who ever existed. The fact I was born straight also helps me out a great deal. I don't say any of that with any sarcasm at all. I get that my lot in life could be massively worse and not a lot better.

But NONE of what I wrote above means we should support a double standard where if one guy makes a racial comment it is blown off and if another guy does it would have caused his coach to be under pressure and 10 CNN articles about the racist Wisconsin basketball team. If we are going to hammer 19 year olds for using improper language, it shouldn't matter what their skin color happens to be.

I think the bigger discussion point is that because of how he used it in this situation, it is a throw away word to the younger generation. It doesn't mean what it means to 3/4 of us. That's a dangerous road to go down in my opinion because the word will continue to grow in usage whether it be black or white because of the fact that it will just be part of daily usage to a certain generation. Kids everywhwre, all different races, and a generation not understanding why it offends so many others. I can think of many other type words that have changed in the same manner but nothing quite to the level of that one.

[molson]

If you think a black guy using a racial slur is the same thing as a white guy using a racial than I don't think you understand why racial slurs are bad to begin with.

[EagleFan]

It's a word... if you are going to let a word run your life, then you lose in life.

[TroyF]

If you think a black guy using a racial slur is the same thing as a white guy using a racial than I don't think you understand why racial slurs are bad to begin with.

Really? Are you serious?

A racial slur is a racial slur no matter who is using it. You can debate "context" if you want. But context is only ok if you are part of the race using it. I call myself a stupid dego, wap or guido, I'll get some slack because I happen to have an Italian last name.

Those protections should go if I use the comment toward anyone else, of any color or creed. We either condone all of it or none of it. I'm on the none of it side, but to each his/her own.

[Karlifornia]

Really? Are you serious?

A racial slur is a racial slur no matter who is using it. You can debate "context" if you want. But context is only ok if you are part of the race using it. I call myself a stupid dego, wap or guido, I'll get some slack because I happen to have an Italian last name.

Those protections should go if I use the comment toward anyone else, of any color or creed. We either condone all of it or none of it. I'm on the none of it side, but to each his/her own.

Oh, Jesus. If I say my wife/sister/mom is being a bitch it's different than if someone else says it. There are double standards everywhere in life. I don't get to go around calling Vietnamese people "Gooks" with abandon. If my girlfriend called her friend a whore, they would laugh about it. If I said it, I'd be an asshole. Just accept it and move on.

[larrymcg421]

It's more offensive for a white person to use a slur against a black person than it is for a black person to use one against a white person. It's going to continue to be that way for a very, very long time. You can try to look at things in a vacuum and cry about a double standard all you want, but that is completely divorced from the reality of how and why certain words are offensive.

Also, the use of Sharpton is a popular one in these arguments, but he's actually very poor choice. He's pretty adamantly against anyone using the N word, coming out pretty strongly against The Boondocks and various hip hop artists.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I think the bigger discussion point is that because of how he used it in this situation, it is a throw away word to the younger generation.

And that roughly pins down why I wish this could bother me way more than it does. It's such common vernacular in a basketball environment, so common amongst youth, I just can't get too torqued off about Harrison using it in an ill-advised unguarded moment. I've got a 16 y/o with friends across the racial spectrum, I heard them all on XBox Live plenty of times, I know just what a throwaway line that was coming from a young guy like him.

The previously noted double-standards of how it was received will annoy me to some extent but honestly it was just a gigantic c.f. of a comment to make I'm more vaguely amused by it than anything else.

[BYU 14]

And that roughly pins down why I wish this could bother me way more than it does. It's such common vernacular in a basketball environment, so common amongst youth, I just can't get too torqued off about Harrison using it in an ill-advised unguarded moment. I've got a 16 y/o with friends across the racial spectrum, I heard them all on XBox Live plenty of times, I know just what a throwaway line that was coming from a young guy like him.

The previously noted double-standards of how it was received will annoy me to some extent but honestly it was just a gigantic c.f. of a comment to make I'm more vaguely amused by it than anything else.

This, drives me nuts to hear kids throw it about so freely, but it's a huge part of the HS vernacular in general, almost like dude was in the early 80's.

[RainMaker]

No, it isn't. Being a white man in the United States is about the easiest damned existence that anyone could have in the entirety of human history. Seriously, you take the billions of people who have been on this Earth, being a white guy in the United States gives me a better life than 99.999999999999999% of anyone who ever existed. The fact I was born straight also helps me out a great deal. I don't say any of that with any sarcasm at all. I get that my lot in life could be massively worse and not a lot better.

I'd argue being born a 6'5 guy with nearly a 7 foot wingspan and a 37 inch vertical with good parents offers an easier existence than most white men in the United States.

[MrBug708]

It's more offensive for a white person to use a slur against a black person than it is for a black person to use one against a white person. It's going to continue to be that way for a very, very long time. You can try to look at things in a vacuum and cry about a double standard all you want, but that is completely divorced from the reality of how and why certain words are offensive.

Also, the use of Sharpton is a popular one in these arguments, but he's actually very poor choice. He's pretty adamantly against anyone using the N word, coming out pretty strongly against The Boondocks and various hip hop artists.

Look at comedy. Everyone makes fun of white people. Everybody else gets made fun of by people only from that race

[nol]

I'd argue being born a 6'5 guy with nearly a 7 foot wingspan and a 37 inch vertical with good parents offers an easier existence than most white men in the United States.

The derp is strong in this one.

[RainMaker]

Almost every major college in this country would have offered him free tuition to play at their school. That's a much easier existence at 18 years old than most other 18 year olds have to go through.

I also don't really care what he said because he's a 20 year old who said something which he thought was private in the heat of an incredibly emotional moment. Just think the "his life is so much tougher than everyone else because he's black" argument is silly considering the opportunities he's had over most of the population.

[Izulde]

Someone doesn't know what education looks like for revenue sport athletes at most Division I universities, I see.

[dfisher]

Taking the race part out of the comment still makes it a pretty classless comment. If Harrison was caught saying, "F- that guy" about a guy who just beat him, it makes him come across as a sore loser who can't handle that the other guy just beat him. I also think his words are magnified by the fact that they were undefeated, so people are looking to say that Kentucky couldn't handle it.

[lungs]

Frank is over it, so I am too.

[nol]

I'd argue that assuming that people are just born with a 37 inch vertical leap and that even someone like Andrew Harrison, who is likely not good enough to play in the NBA, has not worked significantly harder at basketball than "most white men" have worked at anything is basically one step away from trying to use phrenology to make your point.

[Arles]

Playing basketball in southern Illinois from the age of 10 to 18 taught me that it was OK for African Americans to use that word to each other, but it was off limits for white guys. Honestly, it never really bothered me as, given the history of it, it wasn't really a word I would have ever felt comfortable using.

It's a bit perplexing to me why so many white guys can grasp this concept. In a perfect world, no one would use it. But, if some black kids think joking around with the word in their own circles helps marginalize the national impact of it, I say have at it. Either way, you shouldn't need to be Mensa member to grasp the idea that white guys using that slang term towards black guys will never be OK. And I don't really think that double standard is all that punitive to us in white society.

[Dutch]

Frank is over it, so I am too.

We are all, over it. But he should know better.

[RainMaker]

I'd argue that assuming that people are just born with a 37 inch vertical leap and that even someone like Andrew Harrison, who is likely not good enough to play in the NBA, has not worked significantly harder at basketball than "most white men" have worked at anything is basically one step away from trying to use phrenology to make your point.

If Harrison was 5'10 he'd be paying $100k+ for his college degree and wouldn't be living in the fancy athletic dorms at Kentucky.

I'm sure he has worked hard to get where he is but genetics plays a role too. The idea that he was less priveleged at 18 than the kid submitting college applications, hoping he got accepted, and signing off on massive student loans is ridiculous. Top tier athletes are some of the most priveleged members of society regardless of race.

[Chief Rum]

Am I the only one that thinks that, putting aside his actual intent, Harrison actually paid Kaminsky a massive unintentional compliment there?

[Dutch]

Probably. But I see where you are going with it. He didn't say shit about me...so talking shit about a competitor is a sign of respect...unless he truly hates the dude, which I doubt.

[Lathum]

I'd argue that assuming that people are just born with a 37 inch vertical leap and that even someone like Andrew Harrison, who is likely not good enough to play in the NBA, has not worked significantly harder at basketball than "most white men" have worked at anything is basically one step away from trying to use phrenology to make your point.

You are so absurd at times. No one said he didn't work hard but his God given talents will make him richer in a few months than any of us.

[Chief Rum]

Probably. But I see where you are going with it. He didn't say shit about me...so talking shit about a competitor is a sign of respect...unless he truly hates the dude, which I doubt.

Yup, exactly. That reaction says "he got to me."

[cartman]

I think we are down to three possible winners for the Yahoo! group.

Kentucky makes the title game - I win
Wisconsin wins the title- hoosiergoody wins
Duke beats Wisconsin - JiMGA wins

I misread the number of points. With Wisconsin beating Duke, that gave hoosiergoody more points than JiMGA, and the victory no matter what happens tonight.

[ISiddiqui]

It's more offensive for a white person to use a slur against a black person than it is for a black person to use one against a white person. It's going to continue to be that way for a very, very long time. You can try to look at things in a vacuum and cry about a double standard all you want, but that is completely divorced from the reality of how and why certain words are offensive.

Indeed.

[tarcone]

would it have been worse had he said "F- that cracker"?

Im just curious. I think the word he used is probably an accepted slang term for the culture. And people outside of the culture wont get "it" and there will be discussions. But had he used the above, would the backlash been far greater?

[Dutch]

Try putting your logic in the minds of 12 year olds. It starts to fall apart some. (Edit: Not yours, tarcone...in general...the defensing of one person saying stupid shit because they are white or black.)

[Groundhog]

would it have been worse had he said "F- that cracker"?

Im just curious. I think the word he used is probably an accepted slang term for the culture. And people outside of the culture wont get "it" and there will be discussions. But had he used the above, would the backlash been far greater?

It would have been worse IMO. I think this incident just show that the both guys are used to hearing the N word thrown around. Kaminsky would never use it, but I'm sure he's used to hearing it.

[nol]

If Harrison was 5'10 he'd be paying $100k+ for his college degree and wouldn't be living in the fancy athletic dorms at Kentucky.

I'm sure he has worked hard to get where he is but genetics plays a role too. The idea that he was less priveleged at 18 than the kid submitting college applications, hoping he got accepted, and signing off on massive student loans is ridiculous. Top tier athletes are some of the most priveleged members of society regardless of race.

If a high school student is in, say, the 95th percentile as far as academics and test scores he/she is in the position to not have to sweat out getting accepted into college or going into massive student loan debt.

A top-tier Division I recruit is, conservatively, in the 99.9th percentile among basketball players, and it's fair to say getting to that level in anything - from basketball to playing the saxophone to woodworking to academics - requires a lot more work than the average person would be familiar with, regardless of how much "raw talent" was there from the start.

You can look at the extremes and say a seven footer who's naturally coordinated doesn't have to work as hard to get a basketball scholarship, but that's the same as saying the son of two college professors likely wouldn't need to study as hard to ace the SAT.

You are so absurd at times. No one said he didn't work hard but his God given talents will make him richer in a few months than any of us.

What? A D-League player makes like 30k, and without looking at everyone's tax return I'm sure there are people making more than the approximately $150k/year he'd make in Europe. You can find literally hundreds of examples where the ratio of work to compensation is more out of whack.

[Lathum]

What? A D-League player makes like 30k, and without looking at everyone's tax return I'm sure there are people making more than the approximately $150k/year he'd make in Europe. You can find literally hundreds of examples where the ratio of work to compensation is more out of whack.

Then he should stay in schol and graduate without the student loans most of us are saddled with.

Regardless, your whole sob tale for him is the thing that is out of whack. Black, white, or purple, because of his talent he is provided with more opportunity than any of us ever had. What he does with it is up to him.

[miami_fan]

Then he should stay in schol and graduate without the student loans most of us are saddled with.

Regardless, your whole sob tale for him is the thing that is out of whack. Black, white, or purple, because of his talent he is provided with more opportunity than any of us ever had. What he does with it is up to him.

I would be careful with the genetics argument in these type of cases.

[Lathum]

I would be careful with the genetics argument in these type of cases.

Why?

My son could be the hardest working kid in the world and have no chance at starting for UK basketball.

[miami_fan]

Why?

My son could be the hardest working kid in the world and have no chance at starting for UK basketball.

Remember the starting point of this conversation. Harrison could be the hardest working kid as well and have no chance at many of the opportunities that your son may have a chance at based solely on both parties' genetics. It could be argued that those opportunities are vastly important than UK basketball.

[miami_fan]

As a fan of the old Big East, I am happy that Bill Raftery is calling the championships game.

[mauchow]

Badgers come out a bit shaky but have settled down..but still missing free throws which... up 2 and shooting 2/6...sigj

[miami_fan]

Kinda disappointed with the Badgers in that last 2 mins.

[nol]

Then he should stay in schol and graduate without the student loans most of us are saddled with.

Regardless, your whole sob tale for him is the thing that is out of whack. Black, white, or purple, because of his talent he is provided with more opportunity than any of us ever had. What he does with it is up to him.

No, the original sob story was "Why does Andrew Harrison get a full ride and the chance to play pro basketball when the average white guy has student loans?" when I'm just offering the rebuttal of, "Andrew Harrison assuredly spent more time from the ages of 6-18 training and playing basketball than the average kid spent doing any extracurricular activity aside from watching TV or playing video games and people seem to enjoy watching and talking about basketball, so no, it's not especially weird or upsetting that he seems to have a relatively 'higher standing' in society or whatever."

[miami_fan]

Look down on the flopper!

[Young Drachma]

FOFC with the hottakes as always.

[Abe Sargent]

Damn Wisconsin!

[bhlloy]

Am I nuts or will Okafor really struggle against guys his size and strength in the NBA? It's not exactly encouraging that he can't stay in front of or finish against Kaminsky. He doesn't look like a #1 overall

[kingfc22]

Not sure how that was a block? Winslow was out of control and ran right over the guy.

[miami_fan]

Not sure how that was a block? Winslow was out of control and ran right over the guy.

A. The other player is in a Duke uniform.

[Easy Mac]

The Wisky player was stepping back

[Glengoyne]

Not sure how that was a block? Winslow was out of control and ran right over the guy.

And just when I was going to say that today's referees give a lot of credit to having the ball Duke draws a charge. SO maybe that blue devil uniform comment has some merit.

[EagleFan]

How was that not a charge?

Not commenting on the previous post, commenting on the non call on the Duke player that basically plowed right into the defender and knocked him down with no call.

[Glengoyne]

The Wisky player was stepping back

Not that time

[Easy Mac]

that was a charge. i guess the refs were giving him the benefit of the doubt on body control.

[nol]

Thought that last whistle was going to be on Jones for the NBA leg kick.

[EagleFan]

There was no body control.

[EagleFan]

Wasn't that off the Duke player? Would like to see a reverse angle replay on that one.

[Easy Mac]

i meant they had been attacking the rim with outstanding control for the majority of the game. i concede it was a charge. i just get the sense that the internet is making sure to plant the seeds for ref conspiracy

[EagleFan]

That player was out of bounds...

[EagleFan]

Some big time screw ups by the refs at the end of this one.

[EagleFan]

Are you freaking kidding me?

[tarcone]

Refs havent made wiscy miss 11 out of the last 14.
I hate to see Duke win. Cmon Bucky

[kingfc22]

Wow...Really

[ColtCrazy]

You have replay. You have the perfect look that his finger was on the ball. Nothing. Unreal. I'm just disgusted at the end of this game.

[Easy Mac]

refs need 46" tvs

[miami_fan]

Oh fuck

[ColtCrazy]

ball game. sigh.

[Glengoyne]

Duke has been really playing big D here. They will deserve it if they pull it off

[Lathum]

You have replay. You have the perfect look that his finger was on the ball. Nothing. Unreal. I'm just disgusted at the end of this game.

I'm not a conspiracy guy but yeah. How is that duke ball?

[Eaglesfan27]

Wow. Not over yet.

[EagleFan]

Why were they wasting so much time there?

[EagleFan]

That's the game...

Was hoping to post this, but I will anyway.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6joOVjEemh4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[EagleFan]

Ugh... That's why I wanted Kentucky to win once Duke won, they would have beaten Duke.

[tarcone]

That sucks.

[mckerney]

Nice! Great to see the season end with the good guys winning.

[MrBug708]

Cue the Coach K > Wooden commentary

[Glengoyne]

One for the thumb.

I'd normally be very happy, but I really wanted Wisconsin to pull this one off.

[ColtCrazy]

Thought Wisconsin really let off the gas a little when Okafor went out with 4. Let Allen run wild. Good game, though, and I did say as long as Kentucky didn't win it I'd be okay.

[Fonzie]

Wisconsin blew it to be sure, but that replay call was simply inexcusable. Why have replay if the clear visual evidence is going to be shrugged off?

[EagleFan]

Wisconsin blew it to be sure, but that replay call was simply inexcusable. Why have replay if the clear visual evidence is going to be shrugged off?

Unfortunately we saw that several times during this tournament. Where the replay showed the call was wrong but they didn't want to overturn their own call. The replays need to be viewed elsewhere (by someone who doesn't even know how it was originally called).

[Lathum]

Was pulling for Wisky but Coach K is a class guy and glad to see him add to his legacy.

[Dutch]

Not a fan of Duke, but they represent well. That trap D and perimeter defense was suffocating. Well executed. In any event, just gotta add...the intense emotion of college tourney basketball is unbeatable in sports. Another fantastic rollercoaster ride of a game.

[nol]

Duke has won all 5 of its titles in an "apolis" - 3 in Indy and 2 in Minny.

[Kodos]

Sorry, Badger fans. I was rooting for you. That's what probably doomed you. For what it's worth, this year's team was fun to watch.

[Brian Swartz]

I was pretty much wrong about everything from the Elite 8 on. Still was an excellent tournament.

[RainMaker]

Solid tournament. But college basketball still needs to adjust. Some really bad offensive basketball being played at that level these days.

[Dutch]

Solid tournament. But college basketball still needs to adjust. Some really bad offensive basketball being played at that level these days.

Be careful what you wish for. I like to think it's because defense is still relevant. The different styles and approaches of college basketball are what makes it so great. Take away defense and it's a mini-NBA. Screw that.

[MizzouRah]

Congrats Duke fans!

[Groundhog]

Wisconsin blew it to be sure, but that replay call was simply inexcusable. Why have replay if the clear visual evidence is going to be shrugged off?

I thought I was going insane while I watched a guy's middle finger clearly touching a basketball repeatedly on replay while the commentary team repeated that there was no contact.... :confused:

Didn't cost them the game though - Jones hit some real tough shots and Wisconsin didn't seem to play any kind of offense the last couple of possessions.

[lungs]

Great run, it's been fun to follow as a Wisconsin fan. Years back I complained that Bo Ryan's style was great for consistently getting in the tournament but would have trouble competing for championships other than the odd lucky run like Dick Bennett had in 2000. I guess I was wrong, but I'm happy to be wrong.

Tough loss, but great fun to watch.

[Groundhog]

Wisconsin play a great brand of basketball... They remind me of the pre-last title Spurs squad in the NBA in that they seem to have an unfair reputation of being "boring", despite playing solid, team basketball on both ends.

[Easy Mac]

If we can't complain about people saying F' Frank Kaminsky, can we at least talk about how classless Bo Ryan has been in his post-game comments?

[chesapeake]

I'm very happy with the result, but surprised how average Okafor was during the tournament. He had a number of moments where he showed glimpses of what he can do; but, for the most part, other guys won the games in this tournament. He'll have to become more assertive and physical if he is going to make it in the NBA.

[britrock88]

Nice! Great to see the season end with the good guys winning.

dafuq

[britrock88]

Congrats Duke fans!

That's the thing. No one else wins. See 2010.

[tarcone]

If we can't complain about people saying F' Frank Kaminsky, can we at least talk about how classless Bo Ryan has been in his post-game comments?

Its not just postgame interviews. I think its just him.

[MrBug708]

dafuq

He's a gopher fan

[miami_fan]

NCAA official -- Refs didn't see TV broadcast view of out-of-bounds video replay (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/12640009/ncaa-official-refs-see-tv-broadcast-view-bounds-video-replay)

I prefer the conspiracy angle much more than this if this is the actual truth.

[Groundhog]

I have to believe that's true because I'm assuming the commentators were watching the refs feed rather than what we were seeing given they also couldn't see the obvious finger movement.

[Kodos]

But the commentators did mention seeing the ball turn from his finger hitting it.

[Groundhog]

I don't remember hearing that - although we also had the joy down under of having the Spanish audio feed bleed into the US audio commentary feed for most of the second half of the game.

[JonInMiddleGA]

If we can't complain about people saying F' Frank Kaminsky, can we at least talk about how classless Bo Ryan has been in his post-game comments?

I wondered if anyone else noticed that or if I was just a grumpy old S.O.B.

I also wondered whether that post-game hallway interview was par for his course or if that was just a one-off really whiny thing.

[Kodos]

Bo knows whining.

[HomerSimpson98]

NCAA official -- Refs didn't see TV broadcast view of out-of-bounds video replay (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/12640009/ncaa-official-refs-see-tv-broadcast-view-bounds-video-replay)

I prefer the conspiracy angle much more than this if this is the actual truth.


hmmmmmm. I thought they just reviewed the broadcast feed??? How many times have we seen the refs watching themselves on the monitor after a replay on their little monitors??

[bhlloy]

Well, if you believe the guy the conclusive angle was shown juuuuust after the refs walked away, and he almost called them back but decided against it. I don't buy it as I think it was pretty conclusive before that (should have been obvious from the first replay I saw), I think they just missed the call.

And that gets to the complete absurdity of having the refs review a broadcast feed on a tiny screen at the side of the court with both coaches, teams and the world watching. The NCAA doesn't make enough money to have a couple of guys in a situation room watching it with a DVR and a few 60 inch TV's?

[mauchow]

Bo's comments regarding the reffing calling the game looser for his team vs the second half is accurate. If you watch the first half, his team played barely any different defensively. He admitted this his players didn't adjust to the referees and he said that he didn't like the major differences between the two halves with the difference of the way it was reffed. I agree with the sentiment.

If you watch it again, the Badgers were called for tiny bumps in the second half, whereas Duke was allowed to ride coattails of Badger players while they were dribbling.

The game was a great one. I don't really have a sour taste, if you have a 9 point lead, you should be able to overcome whatever is thrown at you. Duke played greatdown the stretch, Badgers did not.