In reporting on a piece for this morning’s Lansing State Journal on the reasons for home-court advantage in college basketball, I expected some of what I heard and read.
But not the degree in which the blame is pointed squarely and only on officials.
It certainly lends credence to what are often frustrations and suspicions of fans.
But I’m not sure I completely agree with the research, as thorough and consistent as it may be.
I watch a few games from this season again, watching only for calls, especially those which seemed to change the momentum of a game or sit a player with second or fourth foul.
A couple perceptions: One, players get flustered on the road and do dumb things. They run over people offensively and reach more and try to make up for mistakes with aggression.
Secondly, college basketball really ought to go to six fouls. It would take lessen home-court advantage and take the game out of the hands of officials.
If a second foul didn’t mean a player needed to sit for the rest of the first half, fearing a third foul, then that one bad call by an official wouldn’t as likely change the course of a game.
I also had interesting interviews with retired long-time referees Sam Lickliter and Randy Drury.
What I enjoyed about the conversation was listening to how seriously they take their craft and how professionally they addressed the idea of officials’ bias. It’s essentially the same as someone accusing a journalist of fudging quotes or the truth, even if unintentionally.
The best quote came from Drury: “The biggest compliment that a coach can give an official is, ‘I don’t like that SOB, but I’ll take him on the road anytime.’”
It speaks to how hard they strive for fairness.
As did this quote from Lickliter: “If you think the fouls are 7-2 (in favor of one team), you’re trying to find something to make it 7-3, 7-4. You’re trying to find things that you’re not missing. … You’re aware of what’s going on.”
I’ve always suspected that and don’t necessarily like hearing that, because it means refs are searching for calls and one could call a foul away from the ball on every play in college basketball.
But I respected Lickliter’s candor.
I think basketball is as difficult a sport to officiate as any. It’s fast and fluid and supposedly a non-contact sport, but with contact on every possession.
My issue with officials, beyond a call I disagree with here and there, is when they’re emphatic with a call (especially one they at first weren’t certain about). When Ted Valentine leaps around and points in one direction with emphasis, he’s adding to the momentum and emotion of the game. That’s not his role.
Both Lickliter and Drury said they saw the impact of the crowd visibly on players. And they’re in the arena, more so than those analyzing this from afar.
Officials are human and the stats support their unintentional home-court bias. But that doesn’t explain why so often we see a kid hit six 3s at home go 0-for-8 on the road.
But it’s something to watch more closely.
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Graham,
Do you think those charging calls at the beginning of the second half in the Michigan game?
reversed the flow. Especially the one called on Nix and the clothesline on Appling not called
I talked to a former player who said that in his opinion there was a direct correlation between those calls and MSU scoring 11 points in the first 14 minutes of the second half. MSU more than doubled its production and scored 15 in the last six minutes. To me it almost looked deliberate like the referees were trying to reverse the flow of the game in the home teams favor. I have no doubt we are up 5-7 points in the last minute and our mistakes in that minute do not decide the game if it were not for those early second half calls. Am I off base here? Your thoughts?
out of the 4 charging calls, 2 were very questionable, no doubt about it
Totally agree that Michigan got ALL the calls in the first part of the 2nd half and it allowed them to make their run. In my mind, you should not be gifted a charge unless your feet are set, your body is square and you take the full brunt. Nothing pisses me off more than the obvious flops. In fact, I think it’s poor sportsmanship and it takes advantage of the poorly defined charging foul.
Ed Hightower, Jim Burr, Ted Valentine, all 3 were emphatic and wanted all the attention. Every game whomever is announcing would say how great those 3 refs are when in actuality they are horrible looking for attention.
Belein, Clark Kellogg once told me, that Valentine I dont know about the others kept track of their camera shots and would let the guys in the truck know how many he expected. Guys in the truck used to play a soundtrack of Carly Simons : “Youre so vain when he stopped by, that pissed him off.”
Burke I think just has a bad back and cant get up and down the court any more so he misses a lot.
Sorry thats Jim Burr has a bad back,
Who among the three do you think is the worst than? I think its between Valentine and Hightower not sure who is worse.
Hightower is definitely the worst, Valentine is trying to make up ground though
Also think the inconsistancy stinks from one half to the next, it would be like if the strike zone changed between innings in a MLB game.
The refs this season absolutely appear to have guidance from the NCAA to favor the home teams. it just happens too many times, and it’s been this way for years.
I also think that most basketball players “see” the rim differently in different gyms (ie, colors, depth behind rim, etc) where even a good pre-game shoot-around doesn’t always get you straightened out, plus while everyone knows that the ball just doesn’t want to go in on certain nights, there is absolutely an advantage to shooting at the hoop in your home gym where you have taken 20k shots and have the emotional support of the crowd to pick you up when you need it.
I am a psychology professor at (unnamed rival university, can’t name for fear of tenure implications). The research, as you say, is consistent (which is rare). As always, the/your pop psychology interpretation is incorrect. It is the referees.
The process? What is most affected are people who make quick decisions in ambiguous situations. Many calls are ambiguous. For example, one study looked at trained referees watching a game, one in which they could hear the crowd, and one in which they could not. Profound differences in how they called the game.
Moreover, the type of “decisions” that players are making are very different than the decisions the referees make. The decisions that the referees make are much more vulnerable to social influence.
Moreover, there is a huge difference between a call in the heat of the moment and a “make up call” in terms of the effect on the game, AND whether or not the other players get rattled. Again, it seems to be the big calls that build momentum and rattle players.
I am normally skeptical…but this research has been remarkably consistent. It is the referees.
Curious, than doctor. As a psychiatrist would you call Valentine who keeps track of the number of camera shots he gets and preens for the camera a narcissist personality? Respect your opinion.
Certainly…there are some people who would be more vulnerable than others to social influence…based on personality factors and a desperate need for attention.
In this way, I would compare Valentine to Lindsay Lohan.
So what you’re saying is that LiLo was calling the Paris Hilton game on Sunday? sounds like a definite conflict of interest.
Tend to agree with you on that one Chief, thanks for stopping by.
Is there any type of medication than that could be perscribed for Valentine so that he would be able to do his job more effectively?
You can tell he just loves arguing with coaches, grabbing attention, and getting the fans fired up. It would be different if he was compentent.
Basketball needs to dump the charging foul. First, it’s dangerous to the players–both the charger and chargee. Picture Trice taking a charge from a Nix sized player–ouch! Secondly, the rule states a charge can only result when a player has positioned himself squarely in front of the shooter, outside the arc, and before the shot commences. Who can see all that in a split second? Thirdly, and most importantly, it seems no two officials call the charge the same. One official’s charge is another’s block. The rule should be that if a defensive player makes contact or is contacted by the offensive player, the foul should be assesed against the defensive player. Problem solved!
Problem is everyone is paying attention to the circle under the hoop instead of the actual play. A couple of those charging calls were absolutely blocks, but totally missed because of flops by the defensive player and Valentine wanting to be popular with the crowd.
Doesn’t the NBA now give technical fouls to floppers? I think they should bring that rule to college. Just too many flops, it is getting out of hand…
YES!! Punish floppers! I like that idea.
I don’t think you dump the charging call. If an offensive player runs over a defensive player or lowers the shoulder, it’s definitely a charge.
But the gotta put their body on the line and take the brunt. That’s when they should be rewarded with a charge!
Last night Burr reversed an out of bounds call when he was at center court and the play was down underneath Michigan’s basket, the ball went off Burke’s foot and the official on the spot called it right, in comes Burr from halfcourt changing the call and giving it back to Michigan, the replay clearly showed that it was off Burke. The three officials mentioned in the posts are the worst 3 in basketball and I have been watching them since they started. They all love to be the center of attention.
Your comment was pointless. It wasn’t clear. Secondly, it wasn’t an attention seeking type of change. Beilien actually reacted the same way. If anything, Beilien (who rarely crys or reacts for calls or fouls) instinctually jumped, which I think may have influenced the decision to overturn the call by Burr. See points above about “social influence”.
Do you agree than with the good doctor that Valentine has a personality disorder?
I think people look to pile on Valentine because EVERYONE complains about him. He is too visable, yes I agree. I just think in the end, all officials are human and tend to be influenced by the crowd. I think the point about results from games where officials can’t hear the crowd vs. hearing the crowd is a very interesting part.
Beilien rarely crys or reacts to calls or fouls ? HAHAHA
You’ve just lost all credibility on this board.
The home court advantage is becoming an issue in my opinion. Especially the charge call. People, want to complain about low scoring in college hoops and how today’s players are soft compared to the “old days”. I think that the consistent rise in charge calls has changed the mentality and aggressiveness of the players. Think about how often players drive to the hoop now, compared to say…the 80-90′s. And nothing puts the refs in the spotlight more than a charge call for the home team. It effects momentum way too much and it makes players afraid be aggressive. Heaven forbid a player drives to the basket for a game winning shot/layup because the chance of someone just sliding under for a charge call is way too high, therefore we (as the fan) have to settle for the jab step, step-back jumpshot.
Its one of the reasons that Dawson jumpstops and turns around
Attached is the link that you were inquiring about Tuesday if you want to look around
http://www.theusualsuspects.us.com
Thanks. I actually checked it out this morning. Very cool stuff! I need some more time to browse it. Work and internet issues have knocked me off the grid for a couple days. I look forward to seeing what you guys post after tonight’s game. I’ll be there doing my part! And you’re exactly right on the Dawson move, his lack of ball handling and fear of a charge almost negate his crazy athleticism. Same story with Durrell Summers and Raymar. Learn to handle the ball! Especially when you are that gifted. Anyway….here’s to hoping to see a huge scowl of disappointment tonight from Bo Ryan.
My corporation blocks it during the day so I am only on sparingly , I got the core group together about three years ago but the (admin TDs college )roomate really took off with it. If you want to become a poster next week you have my email, I will forward it on to the admin who can give you a password to post.
Sounds good. Thanks again. Go Green!
Like your name…could this be the real ST…
I dont think I am the “real” Spartytime. I am a long time reader, but just recently started commenting. Pretty much typed in the first “nickname” that came to mind.
So that is where all of the posters from here went…
About a year ago when the paywall was announced at LSJ
i went over this years ago..hightower is a homer..especially for michigan..valentine is the anti-homer..he likes to piss off the home crowd..burr is so old that he has no business driving, let alone reffing..thankfully, ted hillary retired..mike kitts, the skinny old bald guy has screwed us this year at indiana and ann robber..bottom line, you have to be so much better to win on the road.
damn jersey, good memory, hillary was the other one i was trying to think of, and kitts, talk about nightmares..
Burr can hardly walk any more Bellien
that’s another reason for him to retire