Won 5 vs 8

[Unconditional Surrender]

Refs really cooled off in the second half had 45 free throws attempted in the first half only ended up with 64 for the game. I thought it was going to be close to 100. It was a physical game and you must call the hard fouls, but they need to let those little bumps and hand checks go and keep playing.

Refs cooled off calling fouls on Illinois.

 

[UT97Vol]

I was surprised at how well the first half was called. Then the second half happened. Chaz's last 2 fouls alone were egregious. And Milicic got pushed with 2 hands on that rebound they got from the last missed FT.

There were 26 fouls called in the first half and 45 free throws shot. And then we shot like 3 free throws in the second half. Any part of that game may be used as an example of how not to officiate a college basketball game.

 

[VolGee4]

I don’t understand how refs can think this style is good for the sport. It makes for a terrible TV program. Constant stoppage just kills the flow and entertainment. I’m going to watch because I love the Vols but I don’t see how this product grows the audience.

It’s a tough discussion because they changed the rules several years back to create freedom of movement and stop certain contact. Games were getting bogged down with low scoring because of the physicality.

Good officials just should have a feel as to what to allow. Contact 70 feet from the basket where nothing is lost shouldn’t be called.

It was a physical game, and I was kind of ok with how the first half was called. But the problem is we see so many games where each half is called differently, and that’s a problem.

 

[Creeker]

I'm hesitant to say the 1st half was called well, but it was at least called evenly. I thought it was over-officiated, IMO. But then the 2nd half...it was like 3 different officials came out for the 2nd half. Heavily one-sided.

This is accurate, the first half was a foul calling fest, but it was at least the same whistle on both sides of the floor. The second half was totally a pro Illinois whistle. Which leaves 2 options. Corruption, or you were so heavily affected by the crowd that you have no business remaining a ref in major college basketball. Needs to be looked at and addressed for one of those 2 things. I would hope it is at least incompetence.

 

[Delmar]

Some officials have a propensity to assert themselves into the game

Pat Adams and TV Ted Valentine say hello.

 

[SGidds]

They called a common foul on Mashack, which has to stand. They could have additionally called a flagrant foul on Boswell for initiating contact to the head/neck area. Both fouls would stand. I believe Mashack would then shoot the flagrant FTs, and then Boswell would shoot the common foul FTs.

Ironically, the common foul initially called should have been an offensive foul on Boswell who initiated any and all contact.

The only justification for calling a foul on Mashack there was if he was in the restricted arc. And after looking at it, he might have been, but it’s hard to tell from the replay.

The refs will essentially allow an offensive player to run right through a defensive player if he’s in that arc.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

Sure the officiating in this game was arguably horrid but answer me this America "How can that many rabid, cheering student section fans be shown on tv and not one attractive girl"

You’re unfamiliar with champagne I see.

 

[kptvol1452]

There were 26 fouls called in the first half and 45 free throws shot. And then we shot like 3 free throws in the second half. Any part of that game may be used as an example of how not to officiate a college basketball game.

It’s a tough discussion because they changed the rules several years back to create freedom of movement and stop certain contact. Games were getting bogged down with low scoring because of the physicality.

Good officials just should have a feel as to what to allow. Contact 70 feet from the basket where nothing is lost shouldn’t be called.

It was a physical game, and I was kind of ok with how the first half was called. But the problem is we see so many games where each half is called differently, and that’s a problem.

That's right players can't adjust when refs change call from 1st half to 2nd
Go Vols¡!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kptvol1452]

ZZ's fifth foul he was running away from the guy and got pushed down and they called the foul on him?

That was a ridiculous call...Z Z was pushed down from behind to floor and whistled for his 5th....I think ref had his mind made up he was going commit foul
Blew whistle and called it on Z ..... unbelievable......

 

[kptvol1452]

Well called game. Get a grip.

No it wasn't....

 

[hUTch2002]

I was surprised at how well the first half was called. Then the second half happened. Chaz's last 2 fouls alone were egregious. And Milicic got pushed with 2 hands on that rebound they got from the last missed FT.

I think the officiating was poor the whole game, it just didn’t clearly benefit one team or the other in the first half. That sure changed in the second half. IL had 4 fouls up until :17 left. We had 11 and they had been in the bonus since about the 11:00 mark. They shot 15 FTs the second half to our 4. The only reason the didn’t shoot 20+ is they made 2 3s when we were called for a foul and one or two 2-point shots as well. What a great win to overcome that on top of playing a good team on the road, on top of a really bad shooting night, on top of Lanier fouling out with 4 to go and more. It had that feeling through that it just wasn’t our night but the kids dig deep and found a way. That’s a loss in prior years under Barnes. It’s hard not to be excited!

 

[hUTch2002]

They called a common foul on Mashack, which has to stand. They could have additionally called a flagrant foul on Boswell for initiating contact to the head/neck area. Both fouls would stand. I believe Mashack would then shoot the flagrant FTs, and then Boswell would shoot the common foul FTs.

Ironically, the common foul initially called should have been an offensive foul on Boswell who initiated any and all contact.

With Shack in good position. Boswell was at a crazy angle in the still shots. That and the no traveling on the possession before they did finally call traveling were 2 huge misses. Those and the 2 points they stole when they had to review whether or not the ball hit the rim (first time).

 

[Volnanza]

Sure the officiating in this game was arguably horrid but answer me this America "How can that many rabid, cheering student section fans be shown on tv and not one attractive girl"

I was wondering the same thing. Many of them looked like 'The Far Side' characters. And was it just me that noticed that Illinois needs to slack off on the roids. I never saw so much pock marked skin on so many faces. It was like they had terminal acne.

 

[Zues1]

That was a ridiculous call...Z Z was pushed down from behind to floor and whistled for his 5th....I think ref had his mind made up he was going commit foul
Blew whistle and called it on Z ..... unbelievable......

And of course the announcers said ZZ was impeding him ..

 

[Zues1]

Those rims were another issue. Tighter that a ........
It affected both teams, physical play, crappy officiating made for an ugly game.
Worse game UT has played all year and they walked out with a win.
Shove off Illinois.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

I really am slow to point out poor officiating being one myself, but that was an atrocity.

Same. It was embarrassing. We didn't play well and had some bonehead fouls but the foul dispairity in the second half was almost criminal especially after calling it way too tight for both the first half.

They only had 4 freakin fouls with under a minute to play. Lanier and ZZ's final fouls were both just absolute horses*** calls.

 

[KB vol]

Refs cooled off calling fouls on Illinois.

I too almost never blame officiating. Obviously, if we hit our free throws, and a few missed threes had fallen, blah, blah, we would have won by a comfortable margin. You can maybe say that about most games. BUT, these refs were horrible and I agree that they need to have a review and be held accountable for bias and being influenced by the crowd and their coach. Otherwise it shows they are not trained or skilled at their job!

 

[chuckiepoo]

It’s hard

…yer damn skippy it is!

 

[aWhiteLoftonChism]

That was the worst call out of a slew of bad calls. Just subpar officiating. They have got to fix plays like this when an offensive player initiates contact with a defense player! If a defender is mirroring his opponent an arms length away, and an offensive player jump or lunge into him, there is no way in the world that it should ever be called a defensive foul. I hate it because guys can just bully their way to FTs. Happens on all levels ….

There is no way in hell that white ref didn't have money on IL.

It is simply not possible to explain what he was doing otherwise.

Even looking for a flagrant foul to the head on Mashack when Mashack was the one who was fouled and his hands were down.

 

[aWhiteLoftonChism]

The review was for a flagrant foul on Boswell from Illinois.

Then how was it not a flagrant foul? He purposefully lunged at Shack with force and led into his face with his arms. HARD!

 

[aWhiteLoftonChism]

I was surprised at how well the first half was called. Then the second half happened. Chaz's last 2 fouls alone were egregious. And Milicic got pushed with 2 hands on that rebound they got from the last missed FT.

Yes sir these where in the top 5 of the worst calls during the game.

 

[cncchris33]

Then how was it not a flagrant foul? He purposefully lunged at Shack with force and led into his face with his arms. HARD!

Judgement call. You'd have to ask the guys in stripes, last night. My guess is that they didn't believe the intent was to make contact with Mashack's face, and they didn't think he went out of his way to make contact above the shoulders outside his attempt to draw contact and go up to make the shot.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

You know the officiating is bad when the announcers are questioning mulitple calls. The color commentary guy several times was like "uhhh...ok..." Usually they try to tow the line or at most say "tough call".

 

[cardvolfan]

They called a common foul on Mashack, which has to stand. They could have additionally called a flagrant foul on Boswell for initiating contact to the head/neck area. Both fouls would stand. I believe Mashack would then shoot the flagrant FTs, and then Boswell would shoot the common foul FTs.

Ironically, the common foul initially called should have been an offensive foul on Boswell who initiated any and all contact.

These calls where an offensive player is extending 45 degrees or so into a vertical defender and thereby initiates contact are still called in favor of the offense what seems like 85-90% of the time. I get that basketball is hard to call, but don’t officials understand what the guy with the ball is trying to do? I ask that rhetorically, but last night their freshman guard was initiating all night, and in effect, was using himself as a battering ram. For anyone who listened to Underwood post game, that’s kind of what he’s suggesting.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

Judgement call. You'd have to ask the guys in stripes, last night. My guess is that they didn't believe the intent was to make contact with Mashack's face, and they didn't think he went out of his way to make contact above the shoulders outside his attempt to draw contact and go up to make the shot.

Agree...the issue is not being able to fix, upon review, the obviously wrong "blocking" call which the NCAA needs to fix.