Dodds and Ends

Officials continue to call NCAA Tournament games like they are the Battle for Faluja.

In the second round almost half the games (seven of 16) were bogged down by a foul-a-minute pace. The Tennessee-Butler game had a tournament-high 49 fouls. Taking into account the overtime, there was a foul call every 55 seconds in that game. The worst ratio was in the West Virginia-Duke game which featured a whistle every 50 seconds.

Going into the Sweet 16, three of every eight games (18 of 48, 37.5 percent) are being called at, at least a foul-a-minute rate (minimum 40 fouls in a 40 minutes). The second-round games averaged almost a foul out per game (14 DQs in 16 games). The average fouls per game were 37.125.

So what, you say? Those of you who attended these games (like me) were so pissed at the end you wanted to strangle someone.

I'll say it again. A mandate has been handed down by someone to call these games close. It takes away from the appeal of the tournament -- the players. We don't come to see officials, we come to see great ball.

The conspiracy numbers from the second round

To be fair, readers need to know Memphis skewed the data here by providing around 7,000 of those fouls.

What do you think about the accuracy of the fouls? Especially the timing of the fouls?

I won't pretend to be dispassionate. I'm a Bruin.

The media seems intent on overturning or at least cheapening UCLA's win over Texas A&M because of the missed call at the end of the game. Given the time left in the game, isn't calling a foul a considerably risky proposition unless you had a direct and clear view of the action? There were three players surrounding the shooter and while I don't know the refs position on the court, I do know that when asked in the post-game Kevin Love (who was involved in the play) wasn't sure who made the play.

Not to run too far off topic, should you believe Love ingenuous or the refs somehow blind/dumb -- doesn't one need to consider all the borderline-to-horrendous fouls called, no matter the timing? Looking through my blue and gold colored glasses from the UCLA section ... or really anywhere in the Honda Ponda... it seemed a little obvious UCLA was the victim of more overall blown calls.

Dennis, countrymen, lend me your thoughts

whats it going to be?

One thread you're complaining about a non-call. Next you're complaining about it being called to close. Whats next? Oh, and thanks for fixing the link to the pictures of the non-call on Shipp against Sloan. Can you now get us a picture of Sloan throwing Collison to the deck when the official actually did call a foul, but on the wrong player? Hope to see you wearing black and white and calling the next UCLA game since you're so good the day after with still 2 dimensional pictures.

rjucla Reputation: 90 Level: All-Star Since: Nov 30, 2007	Posted on: March 24, 2008 6:59 pm Score: 86 The conspiracy numbers from the second round To be fair, readers need to know Memphis skewed the data here by providing around 7,000 of those fouls. What do you think about the accuracy of the fouls? Especially the timing of the fouls? I won't pretend to be dispassionate. I'm a Bruin. The media seems intent on overturning or at least cheapening UCLA's win over Texas A&M because of the missed call at the end of the game. Given the time left in the game, isn't calling a foul a considerably risky proposition unless you had a direct and clear view of the action? There were three players surrounding the shooter and while I don't know the refs position on the court, I do know that when asked in the post-game Kevin Love (who was involved in the play) wasn't sure who made the play. Not to run too far off topic, should you believe Love ingenuous or the refs somehow blind/dumb -- doesn't one need to consider all the borderline-to-horrendous fouls called, no matter the timing? Looking through my blue and gold colored glasses from the UCLA section ... or really anywhere in the Honda Ponda... it seemed a little obvious UCLA was the victim of more overall blown calls. Dennis, countrymen, lend me your thoughts [ Reply to Comment ]
smkjc Reputation: 8 Level: Amateur Since: Dec 2, 2007	Posted on: March 24, 2008 7:41 pm Score: -20 The conspiracy numbers from the second round iF THE CALLS ARE NOT MADE IT ONLY FAVORS THE TEAMS WHO HAVE ALWAYS DELIBERATELY FOULED BECAUSE OF DEPTH OF TEAM. wISCONSIN RARELY HAS MORE FOULS THAN OPPONENTS: GOOD DEFENSE. MEMPHIS, NC, DUKE, UCLA SURVIVE FREQUENTLY BECAUSE OF IT. [ Reply to Comment ]
popopapa Reputation: 64 Level: Pro Since: Dec 3, 2006	Posted on: March 24, 2008 8:40 pm Score: 74 whats it going to be? One thread you're complaining about a non-call. Next you're complaining about it being called to close. Whats next? Oh, and thanks for fixing the link to the pictures of the non-call on Shipp against Sloan. Can you now get us a picture of Sloan throwing Collison to the deck when the official actually did call a foul, but on the wrong player? Hope to see you wearing black and white and calling the next UCLA game since you're so good the day after with still 2 dimensional pictures. [ Reply to Comment ]
Dennis Dodd Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Feb 8, 2008	Posted on: March 24, 2008 9:47 pm Score: 66 The conspiracy numbers from the second round Popa: two-dimensional pictures? Sorry I wasn't there with IMAX. Bad officiating is bad officiating. non-call or too many calls. [ Reply to Comment ]
unctheels23 Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 2, 2008	Posted on: March 24, 2008 10:56 pm Score: 39

Dennis Dodd

The conspiracy numbers from the second round

The conspiracy numbers from the second round

The conspiracy numbers from the second round

whats it going to be?

The conspiracy numbers from the second round