A game you probably didn't see

[AstroVol]

In the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Sun tournament, East Tennessee State (ETSU) is inbounding the ball against Belmont with a 65-64 lead with 38.2 seconds remaining. ETSU misses a shot and gets the board, so all they have to do is dribble out the clock and maybe make some free throws to advance to the finals. That is, until a debatable technical foul is called against ETSU.

Check the tape, right around the 0:40 mark of the clip.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPnkC0f2v2U

To make a long story short, if you don't want to watch the entire nine minute clip, the best FT shooter in the conference (for Belmont) nails the pair of technical foul free throws, and the ETSU player misses the front end of a one and one. Belmont rebounds, wins the game, advances to the finals, wins that in a rout, and is now going to the big dance. ETSU will be watching from home, perhaps only because of that technical foul.

I think the call was borderline, but part of me really feels for that kid.

Kids, it definitely shows how important keeping your cool is. Oh yeah, and don't do drugs.

 

[Huckleberry]

Looks like the right call to me. And, IMO, being able to make the right call without being influenced by game situation and other emotional factors is what makes for a great call.

The kid blew it. And the ETSU coach's lashing out at the referees missed the boat, too. I can understand not ripping into Swader while he still has to shoot the front end. But that scowl toward the ref was entirely misplaced.

 

[Statalyzer]

It's a debateable call, but it isn't a "bad call." The thing is that space-clearing elbows happen on occasion and players usually don't get T'ed up for them.

 

[Huckleberry]

Space-clearing elbow? Seriously?

The whistle had already blown and the elbow that went flying wasn't attached to a hand that was in contact with the ball. Hardly a space-clearing elbow. Combined with the running mouth and body posturing there's no way you can reasonably interpret that as a space-clearing elbow.

 

[Chest Rockwell]

In that situation, the kid has to know he's going to get fouled and the fouls at the end of the game to send a player to the line are typically of this variety. It sucks for the rest of his team, but he deserves to wear the goat horns.

 

[Statalyzer]

I don't see what difference this makes or why you're making a big issue of it, but it happened fractions of a second I hear the whistle, which makes me think that elbow was swinging out just the same even if the foul call didn't happen.

 

[bierce]

That was a deserved technical. The Belmont guy reached low from behind the ETSU player. He didn't do any kind of rough foul, just reached in. The whistle blew and the ETSU guy turned to swing his elbow up at the Belmont guy's face.

 

[Mr. Orange]

I don't know what the rules say is allowable, but even without a whistle I would hope that a "space-clearing elbow" directed at someones face would result in a technical anyway. I have no problem with that call whatsoever.

 

[p_town_horn]

Reminds me of the call on Wagmene, not cool man, not cool.

 

[Statalyzer]

In reply to:

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[L.A.Longhorn]

That kid blew their entire season.

sucks for the rest of the team

 

[bierce]

The rule states

Section 13--Elbows

Art. 1. A player shall not excessively swing his or her arm(s) or elbow(s) even without contacting an opponent.

Art. 2. A player may extend arm(s) or elbow(s) to hold the ball under the chin or against the body.

Art. 3. Actions of the arm(s) and elbow(s) resulting from total body movement as in pivoting or movement of the ball incidental to feinting with it, releasing it or moving it to prevent a held ball or loss of control shall not be considered excessive.
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