It wasn't that great of a game. Both teams played like crap until Duke started hitting shots at the end. Wisconsin barely attacked, and when they did, Duke got into foul trouble. Also, Wisconsin let Duke get away with having their two best players on the bench for half the game. But I am still wondering how the refs didn't see his fingers hit the ball even after replay? That's just terrible.
As far as the Badgers not shaking hands, they did not get a chance too. The Duke fans and players stormed the court in celebration before anything could be put together. It was one of the first things I said and asked a buddy who was there. There were a lot of questionable calls. It seemed like there were a lot of fouls, on the Badgers. A national championship on the line and the refs did not allow this game to get remotely close to physical like basketball should be. Not to mention the plain luck in tossing the ball up toward the rim and it just going in like Duke did toward the end. Its okay though...I think it is fair to say Bo was out-coached throughout the 2nd half and that is why the game went the way it did. That is basketball.... There was no loser last night as many, including myself, thought it would be a Duke Kentucky show as the Badgers sent shock waves through the country Saturday. On to baseball.......
The officiating is nothing new. It's horrible throughout the entire tournament. Something has to change in college basketball. The game is getting unbearable at times to watch. p.s. I wish Davidmil was around to boast and rub it in my face lol
I personally thought it was a really entertaining game. The one thing I really noticed about some of the players with the best mentalities is they get the sense of urgency way before other players. I try to show my kids the guys who sense the game is getting out of hand even with 15 minutes to go and they just go for it....putting everything on the line, not worried about getting hurt, and changing the tide of the game way before the last 2 minutes. That mentality is the big separator in all sports.
Agreed. And another separator in all sports is the "it" factor. Some athletes have the ability to perform at the same level or even elevate their game. They strive under the pressure, or simply don't feel it. The mind and body correlation is HUGE in sports. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you can't manage it under the gun it doesn't matter. Something you can't teach either.
Yeah, twice in the tourney the calls by video weren't reversed, I don't see how that happens. All in all, I agree with you. They didn't attack, took too many jump shots....
Wisconsin passed up way too many good shots looking for the perfect shot and it cost them big time. Bo Ryan made a complete *** of himself in his post game comments whining about the officiating and saying he doesn't partake in the "rent a player" model referring to Dukes more talented roster. I was there too and Wisconsin made no attempt to shake hands. It wasn't that they were headed that way and got stormed over. It's not a big deal I was just pointing out that it's extremely common in the tournament and not as big of a deal as many tried to make it out to be. Coach K validated what Cal tried to prove to people 6 years ago.... The college game has changed and talent beats experience 9 times out of 10. These kids come out of high school as prepared physically and mentally as a junior in college would be back in the 70s with the 24-7 training and games year round. My Duke buddies have been giving me hell on morning.
Does anyone think the game was played so differently in the second half that Wisconsin could go from 2 fouls in the first half to 13 in the second? I didn't have a dog in the fight, and hate listening to people whine about refs....but, ya, I'm gonna be THAT guy. To me, it looked like flipping a switch the way the officiating changed in the second half AFTER Wisconsin went on a scoring streak. From non-calls, to petty calls, to missed calls, it just smelled really fishy to me. Again, I don't hate Duke, I don't root for Wisconsin, but that was some choppy officiating at best. I can see why those kids were getting so frustrated. The refs swallowed the whistle in the first half and then wore it out the second. Not the only game of the tournament I noticed it. A little consistency would be nice for both fans and players.
Exactly what my dad and I talked about the whole second half. The one thing I hate about college basketball.
Congrats to Duke. Not a Duke fan by any stretch of the imagination but I recognize the accomplishment. I feel that the officiating was suspect all throughout the tourney. Wisconsin had a great season and refs or not came up short at the end. Like the KY game where Wisconsin got the calls and made the shots at the end of the game and Duke did in this game. Hats off to Duke ........... and it pains me to say that.
The refs becoming blind on the last review made it seem fishy to me and it didn't help that Duke was the team benefiting. Okay, I am now done being that guy. It's not just the refs last night, but officiating as a whole. A player dribbling down the lane, intentionally running into a defender with his arms up should not get that call. That happened several times last night and happens on a night to night basis in basketball.
Agreed. If you can't fake the defender into leaving his feet you shouldn't get a call for running into a statue standing still with his arms up. 30 second shot clock, extending the no charge circle out, and start calling the hacking and hand checking will all help the college game become much more fluid.
I both agree and disagree with this. Physically and mentally they are probably tougher coming out of AAU and High School than kids used to be, but these kids are not even close to fundamentally skilled as they used to be. Sure, they are talented and do a lot of different things, but the game and the refs have had to adapt to this type of play as they would foul both teams out in the first half if they actually called all the fouls that are happening out there. Watching a post player trying to get position is alomst like watching a sumo wresting competition. The defender just shoves the post and the post just shoves back, they never call either one when they are fighting for post position. Wing defenders are constantly hand checking and bumping the dribblers off their path instead of breaking down and beating them to the spot. There are way too many dribblers out of control, creating contact with the defender by not allowing them to have their position on the court, which they are entitled to. Several examples of that in this game. These kids are bigger, faster, stronger, but only the top 1% are any more skilled. Way too many cannot shoot free throws, most post players don't have great footwork or ball fake skills. Very few teams run a structured offense that puts players in good positions to make open shots, way too many just waste the clock and end up with a one on one drive or jump shot. I feel most of that is due to these kids never being forced to run structured offenses as they are usually run and gunning in AAU and by the time they get to high school, you can't change them. If they were better overall, then they would be scoring way more points and shooting higher percentages than what players did 20 years ago, but it really hasn't changed much over the years.
^ great take. I agree with all the points. I was referring to the top 10% of the graduating seniors in HS with my generalizations. Back in the day they wouldn't even play until JR and SR years in college. Now the top kids are coming in and performing at a high level from day 1 due to them approaching the sport professionally since middle school. AAU is one of those necessary evils that both hinders and helps develop players at the same time. I feel if players all stayed as they did under the old model we would be seeing players peform at never before seen levels in college. Anthony Davis is a top 3 NBA player right now and 3 decades ago he'd be a senior in college... Crazy to think about.
Honestly, I think they need to change the one and one rule. It's stupid. I would be in favor of allowing them to go directly to the NBA, but if they choose the college route I think it needs to be 3 years minimum before they become eligible for the NBA, similar to the NFL. Players like Lebron didn't need a year of college to play at the professional level, but 99% of these kids will never make it in the NBA. Every year there are dozens of kids that leave early and enter the draft, only to not even get drafted or not be a lottery pick and get cut. The NBA is about the most exclusive club in the world, with only about 30-40 players making it out of every draft class with thousands and thousands thinking they have a chance. I think it would elevate the college game without hindering the NBA.
Skywalker I hear you, however in my humble opinion, this is America, a person should be able to pursue their dreams without anyone interfering. And that includes the NCAA and colleges. Now, if a business such as the NFL wants to independently make an age rule that affects their own business, then go for it.
That's what I'm referring to. The One and Done rule is an NBA rule, just like the 3 years out of high school rule for the NFL. That's why I'm for them changing the rules. If a kid can make millions of dollars because of his skill, he should be able to go get it. If that kid is not skilled enough to be drafted by the NBA, there should be an NBA statute that says they cannot enter the draft until 3 years out of high school. They don't have to play college basketball. They could play in Europe or where ever they feel will give them the best chance to develop their skills to enter the draft after 3 years. This will eliminate a lot of the issues with wasted time and funds on kids that have zero interest in getting a college education. Those that choose to play college basketball will do so knowing they have 3 years to get an education and develop their skills in whatever it is they are going to do for a living whether that be basketball or some other profession that they learned while attending college.
