Comments on: Big 12 M5: 01.09.15 Edition

By: Chris Stone

Chris Stone — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 21:43:19 +0000

In reply to Jack.

Jack and Mark – Sorry that I missed your comments. I’ve been a bit tied up lately. The call did change the game and in a close game like that, the two points did matter. Would it have meant a Baylor win? Who knows. That’s obviously impossible to say. There is a case that the play wasn’t a charge since Motley arguably had started his upward motion before Traylor was set. That said, I am not a fan of the block/charge rule. I’d rather see the athletes make a play on the ball instead of getting credit for standing in front of a moving player.

I also like the phrase “making a business decision.” That’s a good one.

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 19:09:07 +0000

Side note: The color guy for the Baylor/KU stated during that play that Traylor was “making a business decision” by squaring up to take that charge. “Making a business decision” is my new favorite term for taking a charge.

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 19:04:59 +0000

Agreed w/ Mark. Full disclosure: I’m a KU grad. I understand the argument that it was the best play of the game, and you can argue that it’s too bad it was wiped away because it was a huge dunk (it really was), but to say the call cost Baylor the game is a little misguided. Like Mark said, if you think the charge was wrong because feet weren’t set or something, that’s one thing. But to say the charge shouldn’t have been called because the dunk was just so nasty, that makes no sense. I don’t really think “highlight-worthiness” is the best standard for referees to use in basketball. Since you don’t really offer the change requested in that last sentence, I have to assume that’s what you mean. That was pretty poor writing from an otherwise excellent site and micro-site.

By: Mark W

Mark W — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 16:03:57 +0000

In #2 you suggest it is time for a change in block/charge rule. A change to what? No charges? If you disagreed with the call, then make your case that the call was wrong, but eliminating all charges would be ridiculous. How exactly do you want to change the rules and how would that have affected that particular game?