The Unspoken Epidemic Plaguing College Basketball
A Game-Changer in Disguise
For those who bleed college basketball, there’s a glaring issue that overshadows the likes of NIL, transfer portals, and conference realignments. The real culprit? The agonizingly slow pace of the last two minutes of the game, courtesy of instant replay and review.
Referees’ Blind Spot
It’s become a farce. Officials no longer make calls with confidence; instead, they hastily utter a verdict, only to scurry to the monitor for validation. This charade not only ruins the flow of the game but also subjects fans to an excruciating wait. We’re forced to watch an official scrutinize a small screen, searching for answers that often remain elusive.
The Foul Conundrum
Take last night’s Seton Hall/Providence game, for instance. A seemingly straightforward foul on the floor was inexplicably overturned, deemed a shooting foul instead. The questions abound: Why did the refs intervene in the first place? How did they arrive at such a contradictory conclusion? Kim English’s “ball don’t lie” outburst after Seton Hall missed the ensuing free throws resonated with many – the system is broken.
A Simple Solution
Let’s adopt a coaching challenge system, à la the NFL. Coaches would receive three challenges per game, allowing them to contest calls without disrupting the game’s rhythm. This approach would eliminate the need for officials to obsess over minute details, freeing the game from the shackles of instant replay.
Consistency is Key
Why do officials reserve their most meticulous scrutiny for the final two minutes? If a call is deemed worthy of review in the dying embers of the game, shouldn’t it be treated with the same level of scrutiny throughout? The UCF/Kansas game, played on the same night, saw a similar call go unchallenged – a stark contrast to the Seton Hall/Providence debacle.
A Unifying Cry
One thing is certain: every college basketball enthusiast agrees that the current instant replay system is fundamentally flawed. We’ve grown accustomed to living with questionable calls throughout the game; it’s time to stop fetishizing the monitor and let the players decide the outcome. The game deserves better.
Leave a Reply