Musketeer Madness

Not our game although there is room for both teams to complain but while watching the Uconn and UWVa they mentioned 22 fouls in the second half with 8 minutes left (now 28) and that both teams have players in danger of fouling out.

48 fouls today in X's game
47 in URI game yesterday Forbes fouling out

I wonder how much refs think "they are the game"

Is it possible with stakes much higher (NCAA tourney bid), that players' adrenalin pumps higher and they play more aggressively, therefore actually committing more fouls?

I am not a referee complainer or consipiracy theorist, but I have not seen worse referring in the A-10 than I have seen this season. The A-10 has to look very closely at the situation over the off season and do something about it before next season.

They did seem to be calling it close today. But as long as they are consistent and call it equally on both sides it is fair, albeit not very interesting for the fans. At least that way the players have a chance to adapt to how the game is being called. At least that is how I tend to see it.

vee4xu wrote:The A-10 has to look very closely at the situation over the off season and do something about it before next season.

What do they do other than complain?

For years, there was talk about the fact that the "let them play" style of Big Ten reffing during the 90s was a problem. Once teams got to the Tournament and ran into refs that wouldn't just "let them play" they got in foul trouble early and often.

Perhaps this is some sort of off-shoot of that-- leagues telling refs to call things closer to avoid that problem.

When Xavier was in the MCC the opposite was the case. The refs called things so tight that when Xavier got into the Dance they had to quickly learn how the, "let them play" style of basketball.

I thought today they let both Xavier and Dayton play and didn't call fouls until there was damn near blood flowing. That said, beware the zebras tomorrow night. I guarantee you the A10 wants Martelli's men in the NCAA and the only way they get there probably is win the whole tournament. I fear Xavier will have to play 5 on 8. I'm positive StJoe will get away with mayhem setting those moving and elbows out screens.

I never could understand why the refs ignored the moving screen when everyone talks about it. I have seen only one time they called it consistently on SJU.

As a former high school official (retired due to injury), those officials with whom I was associated who wanted to be the 'stars' of the game were the ones who always had a personal agenda, sort of a power play issue, along with an unabashed ego. It's like a "I'm in charge here, and don't forget it" attitude. I see that in Ted Valentine and Jim Burr (especially Valentine). Those were the ones who typically had trouble with coaches and relished the confrontations (see Bobby Knight vs.Ted Valentine). They also had trouble with their fellow officials, especially if they were the referee and the others were assigned as umpires.