Notre Dame Game Synopsis

[BasketBySteveLogan]

We got lucky that ND couldnt make anything in the first half, but we didnt take advantage, as we shot about 35% before the break-- giving us a 7 point lead which should have been about 15. You knew this team would start makin shots in the 2nd half....

1) Free throw line: We settled for way too many 3's (6-29).. only had 4 FTA in the first half. Gotta be more aggressive with the ball.. shooting so many 3's bails them out and doesnt make them work on defense. Our guards have to drive more instead of passing it around the perimeter and then shooting a 3.

Contrastly, ND was more aggressive and ended up with 42 FTA to our 11, which is ridiculous. You aint winnin ANY game when that's the case.

2) Deonta: He just had an off night, plain and simple. Tory Jackson played good D on him. If he doesnt play well, it's nearly impossible for us to win games, especially on the road. He's been playin great and he's only a sophomore.. had to happen eventually.

3) Bright spots: Kenny Belton (4-8 fg, 4 rebs) good activity on the blocks... Larry Davis a quick smooth 10 points

Bottom Line: Hey, it's a Big East road game. Barely ANYONE is winning on the road so far. We gave em a fight but when a team makes 67% in a half and shoots about 30 FT, even the Spurs ain't gonna beat em. So we'll just watch the film, learn, remember the experience, and work hard the next few days as we get ready for a tough physical experienced Pitt team.

[Bearcat-in-Italy]

Did Alvin Mitchel get any minutes?

[shaunsimpson]

13 minutes, 0-3 FG, 1-2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 point

[Mick's Da Man]

UC would have lost anyway, but those were homer refs if ever I saw any. UC didn't play well enough to win despite it, but there were just some really, really, really horrible calls going ND's way in the second half.

[uccat04]

Stop with the "homer refs" comments. That cheapens us as fans. The refs had nothing to do with us giving up almost 70% shooting in the second half. Blaming the refs is the easy way out.

[bearcated]

Can't say 'homer' refs. I assume it's a BE crew. But, when one team shoots 42 FTs and the other team shoots 11, you have to wonder.

[columbus_bearcat]

As a basketball official, I always hate the "officiating was horrible" excuse. I did not watch the game 'cause I had a game myself, so I can't comment on any of the calls made during the game. But it does bother me when people use officiating as an excuse of poor play.

Still, the 31 FT's difference is allarming, but it only resulted in 11 more fouls. Many factors could be involved in that including style of play. Perhaps UC didn't work the ball inside enough and settled for the 3. We did shoot 12 more threes than ND, according to the boxscore. Not trying to defend these particular officials, I'm sure there were some bad calls. Not an easy job, but they should be the best of the best considering how much they get paid. Just wanted to throw my 2 cents in.

[uccat04]

Maybe if UC would get the ball inside some, there'd be more of an opportunity to get fouled. There aren't going to be a lot of fouls called on three point shots. I'm not trying to bash the Cats, but let's call a spade a spade. ND shot layups all night long. There are a lot more opportunities to get fouled.

Besides, we can't hit any free throws when we do get to the line.

[FleXcursion]

I did not watch the game

no one is blaming the refs for the outcome; just saying that they are terrible, because--well--they are.

perhaps watch the game first then state your 2 cents--opinion might change. big east officials for many games, not just ours, have been horrendous this year. tons of no calls on hacks, they never call traveling, etc. this can have an effect on games and i think it did to a point yesterday, but the refs. did not cost us the game.

they just stink.

[columbus_bearcat]

Agreed, overall the officiating has been horrible in all conferences, at least of the games I've watched. I find myself yelling at the TV why that travel be called, why not a foul, etc... I only ref HS which is obviously different than college, but the insconsistency is ridiculous.

I was just pointing out the underlying factors for the disperity. Happens all the time, one team plays zone and doesn't press, the other team plays man-to-man and presses. There's gonna be huge differences in fouls. I hear about it constantly like its the officials job to make sure the fouls are even for both teams.

[London 'Cat]

Can't say 'homer' refs. I assume it's a BE crew. But, when one team shoots 42 FTs and the other team shoots 11, you have to wonder.

The refs were terrible, but not as bad as the defense by the 'Cats. However, the refs in the ND game last season were also awful. I commented to my wife about it last night and she agreed, recalling how bad they were last year. Last night, Harangody continually "hooked" the defender guarding him to free himself to the basket. It never once was called. That's why he was able to score so many points after halftime. You let any player get away with an obvious offensive foul every time he touches the ball, and he'll light you up. It was a shameful oversight by the refs.

[BasketBySteveLogan]

Harangody walked EVERY time he touched the ball... no calls... and then they called Deonta for THREE ridiculous travels that were marginal as *****

Not that the refs lost us the game, but it was frustrating... and also, they called goaltending when it wasnt, which they corrected, but since it was an inadvertent whistle, ND got the ball off the possession and of course swished a 3 right away

We also had SEVEN rim-outs which is never fun to deal with

[BasketBySteveLogan]

But remember how bad we looked against St Johns, then bounced back and played great at home... I think the 2 teams we play this time a re a little bit tougher though... we shall see

[Irishbearcat]

In the first half, I liked what I saw of Belton. He looked far more comfortable. He's gonna be just fine. Also, Sikes made some good plays inside.

I want to see improvement this year, and the first half showed me alot.

[Mick's Da Man]

Stop with the "homer refs" comments. That cheapens us as fans. The refs had nothing to do with us giving up almost 70% shooting in the second half. Blaming the refs is the easy way out.


Not going to stop telling the truth. The officiating was bad.

But obviously you failed to read my ENTIRE POST because I said UC would have lost anyway, inferring that there were other reasons they lost, such as poor defense.

But the margin of victory would not have been as wide because ND wouldn't have shot so many FT's.

You can tell me to stop blaming officiating and I can tell you that you are BLIND. It was bad.

But UC would have lost anyway.

[Mick's Da Man]

Agreed, overall the officiating has been horrible in all conferences, at least of the games I've watched. I find myself yelling at the TV why that travel be called, why not a foul, etc... I only ref HS which is obviously different than college, but the insconsistency is ridiculous.

I was just pointing out the underlying factors for the disperity. Happens all the time, one team plays zone and doesn't press, the other team plays man-to-man and presses. There's gonna be huge differences in fouls. I hear about it constantly like its the officials job to make sure the fouls are even for both teams.

I read somewhere that during the Villanova game, the Big O was repeatedly getting on the refs saying that Reynolds was carrying the ball/traveling.........and that the Big O was beside himself.

Kinda funny.

Pretty sad when we can see it but the officials can't.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Oscar and the refs (college or pro) have been on opposite sides of the calls for 50 years now.

[Bearcat Cafe]

Oscar was right. Scottie Reynolds palms every time he dribbles way more than refs usually let slide. Add in the one footed hop-step and pivot and the fact they didn't call either once and it just boggles the mind. Folks at the Shoe were going nuts.