Comments on: Today’s Lesson: Don’t Criticize ACC Officials

By: ACCBallFan

ACCBallFan — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:13:03 +0000

@ MP, I thought Al-Farouq walked more than he got called for. When he changed pivot feet…near the game’s end with Josh Davis on him? Terrible non-call, in fact a foul was called after the travel instead. It was terrible as a whole, but Wake benefited more from the insanity.

By: nvr1983

nvr1983 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:12:26 +0000

MP–
Thanks for your take since you saw it in-person. I also update the post to reflect the fact that it was NC State that suspended him most likely to try to avoid the wrath of officials this season.

By: MP

MP — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:03:48 +0000

I was the RTC live correspondent for the game, and it surprised me when I saw Smith’s comments this morning. The officiating wasn’t perfect, but it seemed no different than normal ACC officiating. If anything, I thought officiating was being harsh on Wake Forest’s Al-Farouq Aminu, especially early in the game: they called him for two travels that were borderline, as well as an offensive foul outside of the paint that looked questionable. One of the big reasons Smith seemed to pick up fouls was because he was forced to be a secondary or help defender around the basket on Aminu and Ish Smith.

Also, The Charlotte Observer said the suspension was an in-house, NC State decision, not a conference mandated penalty.

http://aboverim.blogspot.com/2009/12/nc-states-smith-suspended-for-arizona.html

By: jk

jk — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:39:21 +0000

Officiating was bad. Very inconsistent both ways. Hard fouls inside weren’t called, while touch fouls on the perimeter would draw a whistle. The game flow was hurt because of all the fouls called against both teams.

Don’t blame Smith for being frustrated, it was a poorly officiated game and ACC fans routinely complain about poor officiating, but the league really doesn’t do anything about it.

By: JoshB

JoshB — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:09:56 +0000

I understand the gist of the article, but would like to point out the glaring error… In college basketball, officials are associated with regions, not conferences. A ref may work a Duke game one night, a Charlotte game the next night and a UNCW game the next. College football is where officials are employed by conferences.