Why I Am Not A Fan of College Basketball

Here are a few examples from the weekend NCAA games of why I am not a fan of college basketball:

1)  The 2 for 3 rule - You see this strategy applied in almost every game.  The team leading is fouled over and over and the parade to the free throw line is endless. It use to be the team that got fouled had the advantage but not any more.  The team fouled gets two foul shots while their opponents who did the fouling get the ball and the opportunity to score three points. 

2)  In the last few seconds of Butler-Marquette game Marquette was being pressed as the Butler tried to implement the 2 for 3 rule since they were behind.  The Golden Eagles got a quick pass to center court  and the player quickly relayed the ball into the front court where a Marquette player was all alone and could have dribble out the time or taken an easy two point lay-in.  The Butler player did hit the Marquette at center court but it was a good second or two after he had  released the ball.  Still the ref called the foul stopping the clock giving the advantage to the team fouling  and allowing Butler to implement the 2 for 3 rule.  Either that ref was told by the NCAA to keep the games exciting for TV purposes, his bracket had Butler or he doesn't know the first thing about the game of basketball.  As it turned Butler almost was able to pull the game out because of this botched call.

3)  Ohio State hit a last second three point basket to beat Iowa State.  The ball went through the basket with the clock showing .2 seconds remaing.  The ref reviewed the play putting .3 seconds back on the clock.  In other words they stopped the clock before the ball even went through the hoop.  I believe you have to have control of the ball to call a time out.  During the game a basket is made and the team calls time out at the time they usually catch the ball after it goes through the basket and the officials do not  put .3 seconds back on the clock.  Anything to make the game more exciting.

4)  There were a total of 60  free throws in California-Syracuse game.  Enough said!

I wonder if the NCAA uses graduates of Ivy League schools to make up their rules? It sure looks like it!

Homer Sweeney