Really seems like we're getting the typical game called against us that Duke always gets. Fitz draws a charge but the guy totally behind the play who couldn't possibly have seen it over rules the other ref. Seems like if there is ever a 50 50 call it goes Duke's way. You'd expect MU to have a few more fouls based on the way they play but this is pretty one sided.
Ed Hightower and crew are just brutal. 12 fouls to 6 at half. I am fine if they are calling a tight game on both ends--but this is as inconsistent a game as I have seen in a while. Do they even know what a travel is? They might as well give Coach K the whistle to speed the game up a bit.
That said, we were in command until Duke switched to a 2-3 zone. We need better spacing, less dribbling and more off ball movement.
12 to 6 fouls tonight at half, 13 to 6 fouls last night in the UofI/Duke game at halftime. You always expect heading into a game with Duke that they're going to get the calls, but nothing can really prepare you for it.
The best call was Paulus' clear push off and charge on Dominic, only to have Paulus pass it into the post and have one called on Ooseman.
Its getting worse. Duke gets the benefit of every charge block call. In some games the ref crew gives the benefit to the offensive players other times the defense but this crew does a complete 180 when MU has the ball everything is a charge when Duke has it everything is a block. Of course we have the announcer claiming that "Duke just knows how to play defense with out fouling". Helps to have the refs beleive the same thing.
Four fouls on McNeal, four fouls on Hayward.
unnatural carnal knowledge you, refs.
I was real impressed with our guys for making it a game playing 5 on 8 most of the way.
11 foul differential. Getting mcneal in foul trouble early really hurts
What I just don't get is .. How is there not an occasional ref who just says, screw these Duke guys. They get all the calls. Not tonight. If my counterpart refs are screwing the other team, I'm going to even it up.
Plus .. NFL refs get graded every week with a team of refs doing video review on every tick of the clock. Let's see some grades on these bozos, see how they "really" are calling games.
Bottom line, Coach K is a rock star. He's the ambassador of college basketball. All the refs love him. He loves the refs. Coincidentally, Crean is getting there. He's brilliant at PR and working people. (which I am fine with for the record) As long as he's not playing Duke or NC or Kanas or Wisconsin up in Madisonchina, he'll gain favor with the refs.
The silver lining in this refereeing debacle is that it prepares them to play in similar situations through this season and postseason when they're in foul trouble. Hate to see the refs impact the game as much as they did. Unfortunate...but learn from it and CHANNEL THE HATRED! >:(
The charge/block calls are ridiculous. The way Duke plays chicken"crap" defense by standing under the basket to draw charges is an affront to the game of basketball. Ever so slowly teams are developing defensive styles that take the game out of the players hands and puts it into the referee's hands. When you're Coach K and can be assured of getting more than your fair share of the calls, it is probably smart. Even when they were late setting themselves they still got the call. That style of defense should not be rewarded by referees unless it is not close.
I cringe whenever Hightower refs one of our games. :-[
the refs were not great but atleast they were consistent. James 4 - 16 performance was a joke and the fact that he was named to the all tourney team make me sick. he needs to learn to play within himself. penetrate and dish when his shot is not falling. poor coaching down the stretch with MU's defense getting four huge stops and coming up with nothing on the other end. the shots they took down the stretch are reflected of a team that was not prepared - off balance one handed runners dont cut it. Hayward needs to learn to dunk the ball.
I thought it was funny when one call did not go Dukes way and coach K looked like he was going to lose it :'( :'(