Seriously I'm just blown away by how bad that call was. I immediately picked up my phone to discuss the absurdity of it w a friend who i know was also blown away. Just total disbelief that a defender can jump in front of an offensive driver and impede his path while literally jumping in front of him w zero position established. The first rule is you have to already be there, standing still. Just totally unbelievably bad.
the reality is - refs - and especially ones like tv ted and his crew - (does he have to ref all cuse games?!??!?)
ref the game state and the standings and the rep of teams and home/away situation and ACC legacy etc
if you watch closely, there is usually one of the teams that gets away with everything and one of the teams that gets whistled for
everything although it alternates throughout the game.
for instance -
when the road team opens up a lead and threatens to separate---- they are not getting calls!
for instance, if duke is involved in a charge block call - they are going to get the benefit of the doubt 80% of the time...unless they are winning by 20+
for instance, UVA doesnt get called for handchecking ever - but if an SU player is near an opponent at the rim and they are in the lead...good chance they are getting a foul called against them.
for instance - if the much more physical team had many more fouls called in the first half...they are likely to get away with physical play in the second half to "even it out"
these guys are sneaky - at opportune times they show their true colors...and then use moments in the game that are less impactful to even things out in the box score...I kn0w
it sounds crazy...but I've watched too many decades of basketball to think anything else.
I wouldnt be surprised if refs talk amongst themselves and decide together which team they will favor for the 4 minutes...if they are like well we favored that team on some calls lets even it out now etc...
they arent just calling objectively. period...they are "massaging outcomes"
sometimes its one of three who seems to be particularly biased,,,sometimes its the whole crew
it sucks i hate it...but it is what it is.
home teams get calls
bluebloods get calls
the team trailing on the scoreboard gets calls
physical teams get away with more physical play
etc
i dont know if its some master conspiracy or simply unconscious bias or incompetence or some combo...but its clear to me
