Refs Blatantly Steal Game From Clemson (Update: ACC “Handles Internally”)

06-07 Basketball General Headscratchers NCS Basketball95

SFN commentary: Just yesterday Duke Basketball Report took a shot at SFN for daring to discuss officiating in Duke games. LOL! and kiss our ass.

January 26 Update: The ACC does acknowledge the mistake, but nonsensically, it appears no discipline is forthcoming. Quote from Clueless Clougherty:

“At this point, as with most league officiating matters, this situation has been handled and resolved internally.”

I shouldn’t be shocked, but I am. This was no run of the mill judgment error. A strong statement needed to be made for the integrity of the league…and we didn’t get that. I can only imagine how incensed the Tiger faithful must be. Oh, and hat tip to one of my rare work colleagues who is a fellow Wolfpack fan (and SFN lurker).

(Original post follows.)

I don’t know how many of you saw what I just saw. The ESPN announcers (Mike Patrick and Len Elmore, I think) completely soft-pedaled it. The game recap doesn’t even mention the clock change as questionable! But Clemson just got screwed worse than any team since Missouri lost to Colorado on the infamous “5th down” play.

Watch the video on YouTube.com

Here’s the scene – Duke inbounding the ball, up 3, with 5.0 seconds to play. McRoberts throws the ball directly to Tiger guard Vernon Hamilton. Hamilton steps one foot back and nails a 3 to tie the game. However, there is a delay in both starting and stopping the game clock. The teams go to timeout with 1.8 seconds on the clock. However, the officials look at the replay and either stupidly or crookedly decide that there was a timing error and the previous play really only took 0.6 seconds total – laws of physics be damned. Given 4.4 seconds, Duke runs a play to get McClure a runner in the lane, released with 0.2 seconds on the clock.

I’m serious – if you are a Duke fan, you should be ashamed to call that a win. If you are Oliver Purnell, you had better complain as loudly and publicly as you can – to hell with fines and the league office. If you are ACC Commissioner John Swofford, you must suspend the official who made that decision for at least the rest of the season. Otherwise, the credibility of the entire league should come into question. It’s one thing not to call the perpetually hand-checking Devils for any fouls (Paulus had to foul intentionally in the last minute to ensure that Clemson would be in the bonus should Duke need to foul later), but to give them at least 2 extra seconds for a final shot in a tie game? You are entering the 1970s USA/USSR Olympic gold medal game territory.

As a departing shot, thanks to 850TheBuzz for reminding us all that ‘Duke is too good to be celebrating like that’. I wonder how Coach K justifies the hypocrisy?

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

06-07 Basketball General Headscratchers NCS Basketball

95 Responses to Refs Blatantly Steal Game From Clemson (Update: ACC “Handles Internally”)

  1. ruffles31 01/25/2007 at 9:43 PM #

    I agree 100%. This was a screwjob. I noticed that immediately. Patrick and Elmore never said one word about the clock not starting when Hamilton caught the ball. There should of been no more than 2.9 seconds left after Hamilton’s 3 pointer was made.

    Clemson got hosed…plain and simple.

  2. Frank 01/25/2007 at 9:48 PM #

    I saw it also. There was no excuse for putting that time back on the clock. Why would they do it?? Were they bribed?? Threatened?? What??

  3. BJD95 01/25/2007 at 9:51 PM #

    I could see setting the clock anywhere from 2.0-2.5 seconds. No way does it take less than 2.5 to catch, take a half step back, and have a three get to the bottom of the net.

    Remember, by rule you can only get a tip in the last 0.3 seconds. And that doesn’t account for the travel time after it leaves the hand/finger!

  4. BoKnowsNCS71 01/25/2007 at 9:56 PM #

    “Duke is Duke. They’re on TV more times than Leave it to Beaver re-runs”

    The final shot was in time. There is no way that 3+ seconds came off on that errant pass in before that. The clock started when he touched it. And he made a fast shot.

    Duke is good and lucky and coached by a winner. It’s a home game for whatever benefit that is. I don’t liike them but hey — Clemson can file a complaint, the ACC can review, etc. THe big problem is that they never showed the re-play of the clock and the errant pass to satisfy the viewer.

  5. BJD95 01/25/2007 at 9:58 PM #

    I think it’s pretty clear what the ref did – he completely disregarded the fact that the clock ALSO STARTED late. VERY late.

    The ball was well into its downward trajectory before the clock started. So, by simple math, more than 1.2 seconds must have lapsed, even if you don’t account for the catch, the half-step, and the release.

  6. redrum 01/25/2007 at 9:59 PM #

    This outcome, when it comes to Duke, has come to be expected. It just seems refs are intimidated by the likes of seemingly iconic coaches.

  7. redrum 01/25/2007 at 10:01 PM #

    If you have seen the commercials with coach K in them you know they have no shame

  8. #44 17 24 01/25/2007 at 10:34 PM #

    Ha, I dont know why everybody is so upset. Infact this is Clemsons fault. They knew perfectly well that ACC officials were calling this game. I’m actually surprised they didnt call a technical foul on Clemson for stealing the ball so cleanly, eject Oliver Prunel for giving them a dirty look, and kiss Couch Kdfhjfjsakgks;aski’s butt all at the same time.

  9. Wxwolf 01/25/2007 at 10:56 PM #

    The guys from ESPN definitely talked about it right after the game on ESPNNEWS, although Patrick and Elmore really only looked closely at the timing of all of it after the guys in the studio asked them about it. What a terrible call by the officials.

  10. DaPackster 01/25/2007 at 11:10 PM #

    Quit worrying about Duke and worry about our non executing turnover happy team. Human error is part of the game. I’m sure Coach K pays the referees and the timekeeper. The game was over If McRoberts doesn’t imitate Gavin Grant and turn the ball over. You guys kill me with your jealously of Duke and Coach K. They have earned their right to the number 1 program the past 20 years.

  11. wolfpacker420 01/25/2007 at 11:22 PM #

    that was garbage and i witnessed the whole thing. just absurd!!

  12. 94MEGrad 01/25/2007 at 11:47 PM #

    DaPackster,
    Officials review replays at end-of-game situations to ELIMINATE the human error of stopping/starting the clock. Anyone with a brain should be able to use slow motion / freeze-frame to make sure the clock was managed properly.

    Sportscenter led with this game and explained that there should have been 2.4 seconds on the clock after Clemson’s 3-pointer. That would have changed Duke’s options for the final shot.

  13. Dan 01/26/2007 at 12:29 AM #

    Tonight I go to bed hating Duke more than even Chapel Hill.

    Sure that will change the moment I sober up, but still. The ACC should be ashamed, and they should suspend the crew.

  14. Texpack 01/26/2007 at 6:58 AM #

    I watched the end of the game on the ESPNU replay and the amazing thing to me is how casually it was all handled. There did not seem to be a pow wow at the scorer’s table and Oliver Purnell didn’t protest at all that I saw. Appearently the conversation went something like

    Ref : “Hey Mike, how much time you gonna need?”

    Coach JA: “4.4 should be enough.”

    Ref: “No problem”

  15. Rick 01/26/2007 at 8:02 AM #

    I was watching the game and turned it after the shot because there was not enough time to score and I figured there would be a break before overtime. Low and behold I go back and Duke won the game and there was almost five secodns on the clock.
    Something is rotten about this one. It brings into question all games regarding Duke.

  16. Rick 01/26/2007 at 8:03 AM #

    BTW, can we request non ACC officials for all Duke games?

  17. MrPerfectionest 01/26/2007 at 8:09 AM #

    A better link than the crap quality that is Youtube

    http://video.ncsu1.info/video.php?v=duke.wmv

  18. RickJ 01/26/2007 at 8:18 AM #

    The review reminded me of the long review of a game at Cameron when Les was coaching. You knew what was going to happen. The league explanation was that everything about the play that would go our way couldn’t be reviewed. You might see something similar happen in this case.

    Purnell is doing a very good job at Clemson in his 4th year and this would have been a huge win. He is now 1 – 12 against UNC & Duke and doubts are starting to surface after a great start. It would be vintage Clemson if they suffer a major injury in the next 2 weeks.

    Duke has no seniors and only one junior. K is an unbelievable coach.

    Fortunately, Duke & Clemson do have the second game at Clemson on 2/22/07.

  19. BoKnowsNCS71 01/26/2007 at 8:30 AM #

    Duke gets all the calls — Norman Chad in a Washington Post article from last year:

    “Then, of course, there is the legendary, alleged officiating favoritism toward Duke.

    Duke gets all the calls.

    Duke players don’t get into foul trouble, they get into fellowship programs.

    Duke gets all the calls.

    I once saw a Duke player, on a snowmobile, plow into a family of six crossing a street — the family of six was ticketed for jaywalking.

    Duke gets all the calls.

    If Martha Stewart had played for Duke, she wouldn’t have done jail time, she would’ve been second team all-ACC.

    Duke gets all the calls.”

    The rest of the ACC gets “no respect — no respect at all.”

  20. choppack1 01/26/2007 at 8:35 AM #

    “I think it’s pretty clear what the ref did – he completely disregarded the fact that the clock ALSO STARTED late. VERY late.”

    Can they do that? Seriously? What are the rules for reviewing? Are you allowed to say, well the clock started late and it stopped late, so it all evens out. What are the allowed to review and change? My thoughts this morning were that perhaps their hands were tied.

  21. Wulfpack 01/26/2007 at 8:41 AM #

    Don’t officials usually bring both coaches to the scorer’s table for an explanation in situations such as these? I can just see it now. Official – “We’re going to put 4.4 on the clock.” Coach K – “Thatta boy! I owe you a little more next time.” Purnell – “Are you kidding me?” Official – “Shut up and take it like a man.”

    In all seriousness, the guy that should be getting all the credit is Scheyer. That was an incredible pass given the circumstance. All Clemson had to do was knock it away…Oh well.

  22. redfred2 01/26/2007 at 8:59 AM #

    Speaking of poor judgement calls, I probably shouldn’t mention this, but we haven’t heard from Wolfpack4ever in a while. Don’t know if he just stopped posting on SFN, but I hope the old hard headed one is OK.

    Maybe he’s taking time off, just like Lee, now that all of the “grunt work” is done?

  23. packpigskinfan23 01/26/2007 at 9:11 AM #

    ^was thinking the SAME thing yesterday!!!

    where is our little buddy?!

    maybe him and Lee took a vacation together?

  24. BJD95 01/26/2007 at 9:23 AM #

    Their hands are most definitely NOT tied. I have seen clocks get adjusted SOLELY BECAUSE the clock didn’t start on time.

    It is possible that, instead of being crooked, the ref was blatantly incompetent and just didn’t think about or notice the very late starting clock, and his common sense didn’t kick in and say “Wait, how could that play take only half a second?”

    So, the relevant question: Is the ref in question grossly incompetent (and unfit to call games at this level) or crooked (and unfit to call games at ANY level)?

  25. Lee Fowler 01/26/2007 at 9:40 AM #

    This situation only adds more fuel to my assertion that it is time to breakup the ACC and form the LGAA (Land Grant Athletic Association). Let Duke and UNC fend for themselves as Independents.

    Auburn (they, too, are sick of getting ass raped by the Tuscaloosa powers)
    Clemson
    Florida State
    Ga Tech
    Maryland
    Miami
    NC State
    Virginia (Charter ACC member, non landgrant status waiver)
    Virginia Tech
    Vanderbilt
    Wake Forest (Charter ACC member, non landgrant status waiver)
    West Virginia

    BC would gladly return to the Big East.

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