First let me say I think the guys who have called C-USA games this year have been absolutely horrible for the most part. They are wildly inconsistent to say the least. After reading message boards and media reports about UAB’s asking for a review of the game because of officiating I had to say something.
UAB is asking the league to review the films of the game from Saturday complaining about officiating. I wonder if they will ask the league to comment on a few things that I’m sure Davis and company don’t want them to look at.
1. The grabbing of Joey Dorsey’s arm as the UAB player was falling jerking Dorsey down hard onto the floor. The grabbing, leaning on and shoving in the paint that the officials seem to let go throughout the game. It affected the play of our bigs evidenced by 1 point combined between Dorsey and Dozier.
2. The Vaden pushoff as he drove down the floor with seconds left. Vaden extended his left hand, pushing Antonio Anderson back prior to crossing the mid-court line. In addition the video showed NO contact between Anderson, Dozier and Vaden sans that push in the final seconds. I watched it over and over just to be sure. What the funny part was the hack analyst on the broadcast thought they could watch the video to see if he was fouled. Geez, I guess you don’t have to know the rules before they had you a microphone.
3. CDR did NOT travel and was fouled by Vaden. If anything they should have called reach in on Vaden prior to the shot. His feet were not set, he was still moving when he and CDR collided. That is a classic blocking call. CDR spun on his pivot foot and took one step before letting the ball go. Last time I checked on a shot you’ve got one step.
4. The funniest one of them all is the complaints about the walking call on the UAB PG. Davis knew it was a walk so much that he said, “Be smart” to his PG. I read his lips. The call was legit, it was just the play that was bad.
5. Maybe they will look at the two drives CDR had where he was knocked to the ground and the refs swallowed their whistles. I guess Davis and UAB forgot that one.
What Davis doesn’t want to admit is that his players failed to make plays in the final minute. They missed two shots from the floor. They missed a FT that would have forced the Tigers to take a three. They had a 5 second call when they failed to get the ball inbounds. Maybe Davis should go over the films with his team and worry less about what the league thinks of the officials.
The simple fact of the matter is that UAB shot one more FT than the Tigers during the course of the game. It was called evenly as it allowed contact down low but that’s the breaks as they say. Look I can complain about officiating as much or more than the next guy but I know when they are right too. UAB missed their opportunties at the end and the Tigers took advantage of their failures. That’s why they lost, period, end of conversation.
in Tiger fans
Responses to “Officiating and the UAB game, a look back”
February 19th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Do you fail to mention the foul on Vaden ( acknowleged by the broadcast crew that was called a walk and MemPhis basketball? Do you also fail to mention the foul on Rose where he clearly slipped and fell wihout any contact? Also I do not condone but Mempis was not misspelled by the student only the s was left off to prevent the sign from being confiscated.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
More on the UAB fracas. This is a microcosm of the problem of a certain portion of the population of Memphis, Detroit, St. Louis, and wherever there has been long term government handouts. You have children being raised by single mothers who either play ball, gang bang, sell drugs, etc., when they get older since no one is keeping them in line. Shootings at school in Memphis high schools are mainly due to one thug not being able to back down or control their anger. They fell “disrepected” (I am sick and tired of that word, by the way) and somehow less a man if they walk away. Fast forward to the melee after the UAB game. Sure, these fans are classless and beyond ignorant. I have seen similar fans at U of M, Ole Miss, Tennessee, etc., games as well. But to let these fans get under their skins and for a few of these Memphis thugs to try and go after these “fans” is almost funny if it wasn’t so sad. With all that is at stake this year, you would think their peanut brains would at least process the thought that “hey, if I hit the loud mouth dude, I might get suspended”. Duh!!! I almost wish that some of the more air headed Tigers would have had their butts kicked to show them that 1 or 2 against 100 ain’t good odds. I wouldn’t mind if they sit the screwups down during the UT game and let them watch the team they supposedly care so much about go down in defeat. Thank goodness for CDR, Antonio, Willie Kemp and the other cool headed players who showed a lot of class.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
As I stated in a previous blog, how about I spit in your face and see if you walk away. Could you do it? I highly doubt it.
Also, watch the tape and you’ll see UAB students wearing letter jackets on the floor accosting the players. Reports say those are the students who started the spitting and cussing them nose to nose. Again, how would you react? I’d say all in all they did a pretty good job of getting off the floor.
Anyway back to the officiating. The broadcast crew consisted of two people who appeared to know little about the game. I use the final play as an example, the “expert” analyst said, “They are reviewing the play to see if Vaden was fouled.” Anyone who knows anything about college basketball knows you can’t use replays to call fouls. It can only be used for fights, 3 point disputes and clock issues. But if you want to use that hack broadcast team as a barometer then you go right ahead. It seems they do know more than you. Which isn’t saying a lot.
As for the foul called on the UAB on Rose, there was one thing on the replay I couldn’t see and I know you couldn’t as well. We didn’t see the feet of the players. Since the UAB player stumbled it is possible that their feet might have collided. I couldn’t see it but if they were calling a foul on that play that would have been the reason.
The point is that you’ve got no grounds to complain about officials. You shot one more free throw than the Tigers. UAB went into the bonus at 12:29 of the 2nd half while only having 2 fouls called on them in that time frame. The Tigers were whistled for 20 fouls, UAB 18. The three Tigers big men (Dozier, Dorsey and Taggert) had 10. Your big men had maybe 5 total. How does that happen? Physical down low and 2/3’s of the fouls are on the Tigers.
The truth is your boys choked the game away as much as the Tigers took it. The Blazers scored a grand total of six points in the final six minutes all on FT’s. Make a bucket and you’re gloating instead of whining. In the end, you’re what you were before the game started, just another Memphis victim. And as classless a bunch as any in college basketball.
It’s just a shame you couldn’t beat Marshall and other weak teams either. If you had then you would be looking at making the NCAA tournament instead of the NIT.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Sorry my friend but I recorded the game. The UAB player stepped in front of Rose, kicked his foot, causing him to fall. You may want to check but I beleive that is a foul. He missed the free throws and the out come was as good as a turnover. The refs also missed a backcourt violation when the ball was tipped out of bounds under the UAB basket by a Mmephis player. The UAB player inbounding the ball from the baseline, passed the ball to half court and the UAB player had one foot in the front court and one foot in the back court. I beleive tat is a turnover and was missed.
With that said, there were calls missed on both sides of the ball. But, UAB missed an eight foot jumper in the paint and Vaiden missed a free throw in the closing seconds. If they convert, game over. Memphis hit their shots in crunch time and won the game.
February 20th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Tigerbait
I am not sure what your point is but it sounds like you are bring race into the issue, and those uab thugs who started the melee were all white. And although I wasn’t present I am sure that besides the spit and pom poms being thrown there were plenty of “N” words being thrown at our players.. who by the way were cleared of charges yesterday … so I would rather stand on the side of our so called “thugs” anytime. please take your racist comments to some other political board please
February 20th, 2008 at 8:54 am
It was a poorly called game, but it was consistently called. A few more examples. Vaden’s foot looked like it was on the line on his last 3 of the half. Calipari seemed to be asking officials to rule on that as time expired, but they didn’t. In fairness, CDR’s foot seemed pretty close to the line on his last 3. There was an apparent backcourt on UAB that wasn’t called. There was a 5 second call on UAB when by my count, only 3 seconds had elapsed. To me, many of the officials today just don’t have the footwork and footspeed to get in position to make the proper calls. Something has to change.
February 20th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I saw Calipari on PTI yesterday claiming free throws were the least of his concerns. If they get into a situation like UAB did Saturday night, and need to hit two free throws to ostensibly seal the game, do you think he’d have the same opinion?
One more made free throw by UAB and we wouldn’t be having this conversation - at least not about the officiating. We’d be talking about how poorly the Tigers shoot free throws and why that cost them the game.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
metigerfan–
As a UAB student who WAS present at the game, I can say that the media reports in both Birmingham and Memphis have improperly reported the reaction of the student section. I was very close to the tunnel, and never heard what you suggest. UAB is an incredibly diverse campus, and contrary to what the rest of the state may be, the school community is far from lacking class. Our president has chastised the ENTIRE arena for “poor sportsmanship” when the worst of our responses were booing during calls. The only things that were thrown were pompoms, and it was when UAB fans were excited when we thought we had the game won. The simple fact is this: no matter WHO you are, whether UAB is the traveling team, or Memphis, you EXPECT to hear taunting from the home team… Therefore, you should learn how to respond properly (not by throwing slaps or punches). It is never appropriate for players to head into the stands.
And, it has been stated correctly… the officiating was poor. ON BOTH SIDES! Calls were missed. Too many fouls, on both sides. But, as your coach has stated, and many of our fans did on the way out the door, it was a great game to watch in person.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:27 am
Ok, I guess all the witnesses are lying about what happened and you’re not. I don’t think you’re going to find many that believe you. Primarily because we’ve got eyes.
I hope you enjoyed your big game tonight where you and Houston battled for what you always battle for, 2nd place.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:57 am
metigerfan–
When you stated the worst things thrown were pompoms, you are incorrect. Video clearly shows cups, some with liquids remaining, were heaved at the Tiger players.
To carry forward, the “worst” thing being tossed was pompoms is rather foolish, considering NOTHING should have been tossed.
Of course, you’re a kid and don’t realize what’s up in life yet. However, kid or not, please take a moment and ensure your facts are correct, and try to use your head before posting.
That’s the reason you’re in school, right?
February 21st, 2008 at 12:23 pm
JohnStacy & MoonDog–
If cups were thrown, I never saw them. So, congrats, you called me out on a moment I didn’t see.
However, I DID see your player HIT a UAB student. And you say that nothing should be tossed. Does Memphis feel that throwing punches are an exception to the rule and code of conduct? I played basketball for years and endured threats, spitting, and things being thrown, but never did I rush the stands and take out my disgust on a fan. Even in high school, I knew better.
MoonDog, clearly, you were talking to me, and not another because of your comments. Before you make assumptions, you should’ve bothered to ask. I’m NOT some kid. I’m a graduate student approaching 30, and I’ve realized “what’s up in life.” Furthermore, if your assumption about younger people unsure of the world outside is generalized, you must also be under the assumption that your team is also full of “kids” that haven’t learned how to deal with uncomfortable situations like adults.
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