On The Horizon

Jim Squire

ATB: Snow Problem, Plenty of Hoops…--Rush The Court

The Debacle in Hinkle. #17 Butler 69, Xavier 68. The story over the weekend was the bizarre and (some say) unconscionable ending to the Butler-Xavier game on Saturday afternoon. If you somehow missed it, check out our post on the subject from last night. We pretty much agree that the referee crew followed the rules as they’re written, but that the rules as they’re written pretty much suck in a situation such as this. RTC Live was there, and as our correspondent wrote at the time:

That would be one ballsy crew to take a full second OFF the clock against a visitor down by 1 point. HUGE controversy WOW…. I have been doing bball for years and I cannot believe that they just did that?!?!?!?!?!”

Ballsy they were, but also correct by the letter of the law. Unfortunately for Xavier and Chris Mack, the Musketeers were left holding the bag when a timing error led them to believe they’d have a final shot to win the game. The NCAA needs to step up and immediately clarify this rule, including what kind of stopwatch can and cannot be used to estimate the time so that we’re not faced with an equally ridiculous ending on a much bigger stage later this year.
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#6 West Virginia 80, Cleveland State 78. CSU’s pressure defense harassed WVU into eleven second-half turnovers, erasing a 17-pt lead and forcing the Mountaineers to the wire before Huggins’ team finally found a seam in the press to win the game on a layup with 1.1 seconds remaining. Kevin Jones had 23/4 and Da’Sean Butler 18/9/5 assts, while CSU was led by Norris Coles’ 29/5/4 assts.

12/21 - College Hoops Week in Review: Slow week capped off by a wild Saturday--Ballin' is a Habit

GAME OF THE WEEK: Butler 69, Xavier 68

We've already gone over the controversial ending to this game in detail, and after read multiple different view points, we still believe the refs made the correct decision based on the current rules.

The sad part is that this was actually a great game. Butler went up big early before allowing the Musketeers back into the game. Xavier took control in the second half before Butler regained the lead. A back and forth last three minutes led to a wild final 30 seconds.

The point I haven't seen made yet is that while is obviously sucks losing a game this way, it probably would have sucked just as much if they lost after missing a heave from half court (which is, in all likelihood, what would have happened).

Also good this week:

* West Virginia 80, Cleveland State 78: Cleveland State over came a big deficit by zoning and pressing the Mountaineers, but after the Vikings finally tied the game with 13 seconds left, Kevin Jones found a streaking Da'Sean Butler for a layup with 1.2 seconds left to give West Virginia the win.

Red Line Lounge, Week 06--The Mid-Majority
TMM A.M. - December 21, 2009--The Mid-Majority

The Bittersweet-ness Continues: If you think the emotions quickly faded after the bizarre ending to Saturday's Butler-Xavier game, think again. Sunday afternoon in both Indianapolis and Cincinnati, two markets with NFL franchises, stories were still popping up on the internet about the unfortunate circumstances. Bob Kravitz ultimately feels the refs got it right. Meanwhile, Chick Ludwig writes that Xavier got jobbed. And, not surprisingly, Kyle and I discussed it as well. On a related note, several people commented following the game about how difficult it might be for Butler to try and bring non-conference teams into Hinkle Fieldhouse after such a situation. All I know is this...Xavier will be back in two years. That should be...ummm, fun.

Butler Knocks Off Xavier in Dramatic Fashion--Hoopville
The Game Ball Goes To The Timekeeper--Deadspin
Xavier deserved a final shot--Beyond The Arc
Timekeeper errors leads to contoversial Xavier-Butler ending--rivals.com
Xavier offers to pay for damages--Indy Star Butler Insider
Butler Visits Red-Hot UAB For Final Pre-Christmas Tilt--ButlerSports.com

Bulldogs Edged In 2OT At Dayton, 84-81--ButlerSports.com

The BIAH Quotables--Ballin' is a Habit

The West Virginia Mountaineers escaped by the closest of margins in their game against Cleveland State, 80-78. WVU head coach Bob Huggins was disgusted with his team's play:

I've never had a team give up that many layups in 28 years of coaching. I have never coached a team that has that poor of help (defense). We are awful, just God awful.