Questions For Those Who Watched On TV

[TinyTimsLittleBrother]

I hope our guys continue to box out like that going forward. We aren't going to be outjumping teams or simply be taller than teams. Need to clear guys out to get the rebound. I hope Wojo is on film applauding them.

It will repeatedly be called a foul.  Boxing out with your butt is one thing.  But you can't continue to move back into the guy behind you when he is in the air.  It is a very easy foul call.

[avid1010]

It will repeatedly be called a foul.  Boxing out with your butt is one thing.  But you can't continue to move back into the guy behind you when he is in the air.  It is a very easy foul call.

exactly...which is why every coach teaches the person boxing out to release.  i have seen coaches teach smaller guards to hold their box-out and not release/jump if they get caught boxing out a much taller player.  this was before the rule change, and i'm sure MU coaches have made the players aware of that...but old habits die hard. 

[tower912]

It is a foul now.   The problem is that you are allowed to get your butt into a player and hold them there, but once they jump you can no longer back them out.    In the first half, Luke had a box out and the rebound came down and bounced between his legs.    A legal box out because the player behind him was not in the air.    Howard, Rowsey, and JjJ got called for maintaining contact when the player jumped.    At that point, it became undercutting.   

[wadesworld]

If you can't move into a player or it's a foul then every single time a shot goes up there should be a foul called.  There's going to be contact on every single shot, including free throw shots and shots that go in.  People jostle for rebounding position, people box out.  That's just what you do.

This was the first game I can remember a foul being called.  I highly doubt this was just some scouting report adjustment Wojo made for Villanova.  My guess is, given our lack of height, Wojo has been training our guards to box out, hold your box if you have a bigger guy going for a rebound on you, and go get the rebound if nobody is near you.

[Benny B]

It will repeatedly be called a foul.  Boxing out with your butt is one thing.  But you can't continue to move back into the guy behind you when he is in the air.  It is a very easy foul call.

I do so appreciate the combination of "boxing" and "butt" in a single sentence.

[Earl Tatum]

WHO CARES, WE WON.  ON WARRIORS

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm with Wades. I believe everyone when they say its a foul. But I have watched a lot of basketball this year and this game is the first time I remember seeing those called.

[MUMountin]

I'm with Wades. I believe everyone when they say its a foul. But I have watched a lot of basketball this year and this game is the first time I remember seeing those called.

I think you are right--even if it is technically foul, it is rarely called.  And, to Wades point, I don't have a problem with Wojo coaching them in general to do this, because most refs aren't going to call it.

That said, Wojo should use this game to teach them that while they may get away with that in 9/10 games, some refs might focus in on it, and you have to tweak your play to match what the refs are going to do.  If you get called once, ok.  Twice, really need to try something different.  Three times?  C'mon man.