Back Court Violation (or not)

by JoeFieldsEra on Mar 20, 2011 10:22 PM EDT

Rule 4, Section 3, Article 3:

A live ball is in the front court or back court of the team in control as follows:

a. A ball that is in contact with a player or with the playing court shall be in the back court when either the ball or the player (either player when the ball is touching more than one) is touching the back court. It shall be in the front court when neither the ball nor the player is touching the back court.

c. During a dribble from back court to front court, the ball shall be in the front court when both feet of the dribbler and the ball touch the playing court entirely in the front court.

Article 5:

Regardless of where the throw-in spot is located, the throw-in team may cause the ball to go into the back court.

Article 8 (THIS IS THE BIG ONE):

After a jump ball or during a throw-in, the player in his/her front court, who makes the initial touch on the ball while both feet are off the playing court, may be the first to secure control of the ball and land with one or both feet in the back court. It makes no difference if the first foot down was in the front court or back court.

Syracuse should not have lost possession. This was a clear mistake by the referees. Of course, nothing can be done now, but it needs to be pointed out.

Here's the rule book if you don't believe me. Page 61-62. http://www.ncaapublications.com/p-3941-2009-2011-mens-womens-basketball-rules-2-year-publicaton.aspx

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I'd have to see the play again

If that is the rule, I certainly did not know it. I guess the ref probably should though. :-)

Again, though, the “smart” decision is to just get in the back court and catch it there. The only thing you CANNOT do is try to keep it in the front court unsuccessfully.

Dictated, but not read.

by ezcuse on Mar 20, 2011 10:49 PM EDT reply actions

So

Scoop didn’t catch, and land both in the front court, and take a tiny little step onto the line?

I can’t remember…

by SyracuseBills on Mar 20, 2011 11:10 PM EDT reply actions

his first foot down was on the line

unless his back foot happened to still be on the floor when he caught the pass

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by MrPlow99 on Mar 20, 2011 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions

What a surprise

the refs screwed up. Didn’t see that coming.

by pegs on Mar 20, 2011 11:16 PM EDT reply actions

I was just about to post this.

As soon as Len Elmore said "He should have just thrown it in the backcourt, it hit me. Whether or not Scoop was on the line made no difference. If Scoop’s whole body had been on the other side of the line, I bet this wouldn’t have been called, but because Scoop was tiptoeing around, it led to confusion and the wrong call being made. Not that I’m blaming Scoop. The ref was the one who blew the call.

There has been so much questionable officiating during this postseason.

Bullshit.

Go, fight, and win.

by Alex O on Mar 21, 2011 12:07 AM EDT reply actions

I don't want to watch again

But I think he shuffled. On-off-on

by Mike I. on Mar 21, 2011 12:13 AM EDT reply actions

http://www.cbssports.com/video/player/play/collegebasketball/qa67zUuaQzDeQEenOex3_9jAxTMoFI82

He touches the ball, then his first foot lands on the line, then second foot lands in the front court.

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by Matthew Ventolo on Mar 21, 2011 1:44 AM EDT reply actions

Right

First foot lands on the line. Second foot lands in the front court. Therefore, not a back court. He had not established himself in the front court with both feet.

I don’t think this absolutely cost SU the game, but it did change the last minute significantly.

Also, it’s frustrating because it’s not a judgment call. It’s a rules call. Judgment calls are forgivable, but not knowing the rules is just inexcusable.

by JoeFieldsEra on Mar 21, 2011 7:18 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

agreed

posted last night, I was screaming at my TV. I watched it about 10 times, first foot down is on the line, then he stays in the front court. Ref was right there and blew it. Would SU have gottena good shpt with 10 sec., on the shot clock, don’t know, but they should have been given the opportunity

by IKE65 on Mar 21, 2011 9:12 AM EDT reply actions

with such little time left in the game

taking the lead there changes the whole complexion, rather than a turnover and relinquishing the tie

by Menotti on Mar 21, 2011 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions

agreed

any points at that point completly chnages the game

by IKE65 on Mar 21, 2011 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Definitely

If you make a 2 there (big IF the way that game was going), even if Marquette comes back with a 3, you just need a bucket to win. Big, BIG difference.

by JoeFieldsEra on Mar 21, 2011 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I think if Scoop had stepped on or over the line and just done it like it was no big deal, the ref wouldn’t have blown the whistle. But Scoop made a visible effort to not go over the line, so the ref must have brain cramped and thought that it mattered. That doesn’t excuse the ref’s mistake in ANY way, because he’s the official and he should know the rules, but I think Scoop’s behavior pretty much led him right into making the wrong call.

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by atomsareenough on Mar 21, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

It's also a great example of Scoop being Scoop

Scoop sold it as if it were a backcourt violation. By doing so, the ref called it. If Scoop had the game acumen to not make a scene.

Not saying the ref would not have called it if Scoop just caught the ball without incident, but he didnt help matters

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by Sean Keeley on Mar 21, 2011 3:25 PM EDT reply actions

agree, but...

It’s not the ref’s job to judge a call based on the reaction of a player. Players gesture and dance and look amazed on every call. Refs are paid to know the rule.

by Menotti on Mar 21, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

^This

Like I said earlier, the call wouldn’t have been made if Scoop were nonchalantly walking into the backcourt. If you want to blame it on Scoop, sure you can make that argument. That ref is getting paid to enforce the rules on the book though, and he didn’t do his job, which arguably cost us the game.

/ranty rant rant

Go, fight, and win.

by Alex O on Mar 21, 2011 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions