Gottlieb the only guy to tell it like it was about the refs after the game.

[Ghost]

You take the ref's out of the equation late by making open shots and not being in a position to where a blown call by an official is going to ultimately decide a close game. Michigan did that, and Syracuse did not. Not matter how you cut it. 3-14 from three versus 8-24, the ref's really didn't have much to do with that stat line. The bottom line is that if we hit the boards, make some shots, and play Syracuse zone defense in the first half and don't go into the half down 11, the team isn't put into a position to where they have to worry about an official blowing calls to decide the game. Our play is just as much at fault as officiating. Blaming the officials is always the easy scapegoat. This team has been schizophrenic offensively all season long.

Unless it's legitimate. We have instant replay now, and when everyone thinks a call is wrong in full speed, and then it's verified when slowed down - it's not a scapegoat, it's just a fact.

I'll use baseball again - when that kid on the White Sox lost his no-hitter a couple years ago, people weren't using the blown call at first as a scapegoat, and you can't say he should have just struck him out, he was out at first by a MILE, and replay confirmed it. It's just a fact - that call was wrong and it had HUGE implications (he lost his no-hitter and likely his one shot at being in the record books since I think his career crapped out) - just like last night. Keep in mind we lost our PG because of that play. That last possession we have Cooney driving because of that play - the implications and how that game played out were because the ref missed an easy call.

It sucks, it happens, but just saying it's scapegoating isn't legit.

 

[Jasonrob44]

Unless it's legitimate. We have instant replay now, and when everyone thinks a call is wrong in full speed, and then it's verified when slowed down - it's not a scapegoat, it's just a fact.

I'll use baseball again - when that kid on the White Sox lost his no-hitter a couple years ago, people weren't using the blown call at first as a scapegoat, and you can't say he should have just struck him out, he was out at first by a MILE, and replay confirmed it. It's just a fact - that call was wrong and it had HUGE implications (he lost his no-hitter and likely his one shot at being in the record books since I think his career crapped out) - just like last night. Keep in mind we lost our PG because of that play. That last possession we have Cooney driving because of that play - the implications and how that game played out were because the ref missed an easy call.

It sucks, it happens, but just saying it's scapegoating isn't legit.

Please, no more baseball examples...

And I'm not saying that I agree with the calls. They were horrible and definitely hurt our chances at coming back and winning the game. What I am saying is that ultimately the team didn't play up to par through the other 38 minutes of the game, especially in the first half. How many final four games can you expect to win when you're spotting a good team 11 points going in to half time? Our inability to score points and acquire defensive rebounds is what lost us this game more than those blown calls.

 

[SBU72]

I think that comment cost you any shred of credibility you may have still been clinging to and placed you on my "ignore' list.
One last possession to tie the game, our 2 starting guards on the bench, and you want JB to just let the players wing it? I can only imagine the outcry if JB failed to use his remaining TO in that situation.

I liked your post and I hate to defend igor, but the problem may have been with what was said in the time out, not that he called it. Without being able to hear what was said, it's hard to say. A drive to the basket with 12 seconds left down 3 with a little use guard, isn't exactly what I would have called. Did JB expect Mich to foul? would getting 2 do any good? igor is just expecting that what ever JB said was wrong because it didn't work and SU lost regardless of who was exacuting the play.

 

[44cuse]

Those three calls were all tough to swallow, especially being there in person.

The problem is, if we do a little more offensively--if we'd made even just one or two shots more throughout the entire course of the game--those calls wouldn't have had the same impact.

Personally, I thought the 4th foul on MCW was a clear push-off / offensive foul. And the charge on Triche with 19 seconds to go was a blocking foul, without question.

But we had plenty of chances throughout the game to cut into their lead--several times where we had it down to 3 or 4 points--and we could never quite get over the hump. Just wasn't our night offensively.

It comes down to this (not only this obviously, but its the simplest of all the options):

-They made two 30ft three's
-We went 3-14 from three

Those were two very good defensive possessions that 90% of the time won't result in a FG. So get the normal result from those possessions and hit an extra three or two and we win.

We're there other things to point to? Sure...but it's ultimately as simple as that.

44cuse

 

[thebigeast44]

Refs are never irrelevant until the final horn sounds. Folks saying that SU never should have put themselves in the position to let refs help determine the outcome, could just as easily have said the same thing about Michigan if the calls go the other way and we pull it out.

These were 2 evenly matched teams and in a 10 game series, both teams probably win 5 apiece. Yes, we could have played better de in the first half, shot the ball better, MCW and James could have played better etc. Could say the same thing about the POY on the other side. In a game like this, you expect it to be close and go down to the wire. That is why it is critical for refs to get it right in crunch time just as it is critical for the players to come up big. They did not last night and that played a significant role in determining the outcome of the game.

People who do not admit that and do not want to place any blame on the refs are just as bad in their analysis as people who might say we lost only because of them. They are all factors and while you can live with the self inflicted factors, it's more difficult to deal with the factors outside your control such as the poor reffing down the stretch. And the 2 30 footers and myriad bounces that seemed to go Michigan's way sucked too but those things happen sometimes. As do bad calls but it seems we've had more than our fair share lately in games we've been knocked out of the tournament. Oh well, still love my Orange and looking forward to next year. Let's Go Orange!

 

[SarasotaPaul]

I think that comment cost you any shred of credibility you may have still been clinging to and placed you on my "ignore' list.
One last possession to tie the game, our 2 starting guards on the bench, and you want JB to just let the players wing it? I can only imagine the outcry if JB failed to use his remaining TO in that situation.

No way that costs his credibility. His name is Igor - nuff said!