Linehan: Violent outbursts happening more frequently
Five minutes into Tuesday’s basketball game, Darko Cohadarevic rolled on the court in Newark, N.J., curled up in the fetal position and squirming in pain.
For the second time in the first round National Invitation Tournament game, Seton Hall forward Herb Pope had struck Cohadarevic below the belt, sending him to the floor. And for the second time in two weeks, officials ejected an opposing player for punching a Texas Tech athlete.
Good grief this story line is getting tired.
Linehan
College basketball is known for its physicality; athletes who don’t want regular incidental and frequent intentional contact know to stick with track or golf. But what is with the onslaught of intentional fouls? Is this type of thing on the rise?
It certainly looks that way, particularly given Tuesday night’s events. Not long after Pope’s attack on Cohadarevic, a similar fist-to-groin incident occurred in the Mississippi State-Jackson State NIT game.
Kansas forward Markieff Morris, left, is fouled by Texas Tech forward Darko Cohadarevic while driving to the basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big 12 Conference men's tournament, Thursday, March 11, 2010, in Kansas City, Mo. Kansas won 80-68. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Jackson State’s Phillip Williams assaulted Mississippi State’s Dee Bost on the court, with ESPN cameras clearly capturing the thrust as Williams threw a fist at Bost’s groin. Twice in one night athletes gave up on playing tough — but at least clean — defense, and instead resorted to violence.
The defense, of course, is that these players are provoked. That was many fans’ argument after Baylor’s Brittney Griner slugged Lady Raider Jordan Barncastle on March 3. In fairness, Barncastle committed a foul against Griner immediately preceding that punch. But I’ve seen similar offenses in other basketball games
played by both men and women, and never was the response so violent.
Similarly, Pope reportedly claimed that socking Cohadarevic was simply a response to the Tech player hitting him in the head earlier in the game. That move, like Pope’s first punch, apparently went unnoticed by the officiating staff.
There are two realities at work here. First is that post play has undoubtedly gotten more physical as the athletes themselves have had more physical presence to work with. The typical college center is no longer 6-foot-7 and 185 pounds; wait, I take that back, the typical men’s basketball center doesn’t meet those measurements. But just as Griner supporters love to herald her as changing the face of women’s basketball, she’s also changing the size, making post play more physical and intense.
That can also be seen on the men’s side, where two games really unfold on the court: a shoot-out between guards, who play little off-ball defense, and a wrestling match among post players jockeying for position under the basket.
But just as much as the athletes have gotten more physical, it seems the officials are letting them get away with more contact. “Letting them play” is basketball speak for not calling ticky-tack fouls, and while I appreciate the pace that version of officiating provides, it sets a precedent that athletes may take liberties with how ethically they defend opponents.
Griner and Barncastle had an extremely physical battle going throughout much of that game leading up to the punch, and no doubt officials could have done more to rein it in.
Cohadarevic said after the Seton Hall game that when he complained about Pope’s first punch, one official told him to stop whining.
Coaches will never stop recruiting big, strong, aggressive athletes because those same athletes are the reason they win games. Therefore it falls on officiating crews to set the tone not only in single games but across leagues that they will not tolerate figurative or literal below-the-belt shots.
Twice this month Texas Tech basketball has made national headlines not for winning games, but for taking blows. Good for the Raiders for not committing the crimes, but I’m done using boxing analogies to describe basketball games.
To comment on this story:
courtney.linehan@lubbockonline.com l 766-8735
terry.greenberg@lubbockonline.com l 766-8700
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“Coaches will never stop recruiting big, strong, aggressive athletes”.
How could Knight stop, he’s never started ??
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In boxing this is considered afoul, hitting below the belt and in wrestling. this is aserios offense and the participant that does this vile act can be suspended and the other boxer or wrestler awarded the match.
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Courtney,
Good column and you’re right. In my opinion, the game has turned into two parts basketball and one part wrestling. There’s way too much hitting, slapping, bumping, pushing, shoving, etc. The NCAA better get the officials to tighten up for the next few seasons to reverse this nonsense. Naismith must be spinning in his grave.
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thatts a nice picture of you, Courtney.
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Hey Courtney, why would you claim that it was fair for Jordan to get punched by Griner just because Jordan fouled her? Griner and her “adam’s apple” should have been punished to the limit of the law.
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In boxing and wrestling this is considered a foul, hitting below the belt. This serious offense is punished by awarding the match victory to the battered and the offender is disqualified; possibly leading to suspension.
I referee soccer and this happens a lot. This foul is automatically booked, yellow card, for USB, unsportsman like behavior, leading to second yellow card if caught again. If we feel it is done in a violant manner we will send off, red card, the player on the first offense. This is just dirty play and should be treated as such. Yes, we do have to let ticky tacky small petty fouls go so that the game is fluid, not stop and go which takes away rythm for the teams. However, if you let the petty fouls go too long they turn into stupid unnecessary fouls like this. There are times that it is the team or just the particular player. (We) Refs are taught to exchange information to others refs when stuff like this happens so they can be aware and keep an eye out.
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Usually the more violent action takes place AFTER the first blow, push, etc. takes place. Barncastle swung Griner around like a rag doll. What did Darko (6′ 10″ and can’t jump) do to set Pope off; nothing, I doubt it. There is always a cause-effect thing going on during the game.
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Maybe Pope should be farrd?
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It sounds like your players need to quit whining and toughen up.
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Who is whining?
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what is the common denominator? who is throwing the punches? it is that segment of our society that doesn’t understand discipline. they have no self respect nor do they understand what constitutes respect.
i am reminded of the spreewell incident. he should have been banned from the nba for choking his coach, regardless of the reason, however, the nba allowed him to stay and look at our youngsters now. this is the true “cause and effect”.
basketball should be a fluid game and it is up to the refs and the coaches to come to an understanding on how the game is to be played. too many times we have to learn how tight (or loose) a team of refs will call a game during the first few minutes of the game and it changes with each ref team (or what kind of mood a ref may be in). there should be a consensus before the game (preseason) that outlines what to expect during the season from the refs and the refs need to be professional about sticking to the program. in other words, more off-season training for refs and coaches.
no player should expect to remain in the game if they throw a punch. make it a season ending penalty and it will stop all over the nation.
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Say what? Remember, we are THE University of the Texas.
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why is that the tech fans are always whining about other teams being too physical? toughen it up or drop to D-2.
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team_bevo, if only someone would punch you in the face and break your nose, then punch you in the nuts. Then we could tell you to “toughen it up”!
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oooohhhh… somebody has a temper
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Go Horns, we are cheering for you…
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Very well stated, Idsknack, maybe when the officials start removing these players from the games and suspending them for the season , then this uncallled violence will stop, the punch that Griner threw at Barncastle should be investigated by the ncaa, and the the 2 game suspension wasnt enough either.
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I wouldn’t root for TU if they were playing al-Qaida. BTW, how many NCAA final games have the Bonghorns played in?
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hey dont show your ignorance, envy is for losers!!!!
UT has been to the final four, we played for the BCS title game, college world series too.
so what if we loss, your school cannot even come close.
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maybe hance can faarrr him?
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“so what if we loss…” – team_bevo
“Loss” you did. Nice season by the Horns: loaded with blue chippers, ranked #1 at one point, and…one and done in the tourney. Glad you have all those past glories to console you.
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Darko had it coming, just like Barncastle.
If our low life thugs want to try to injure you, why “you had it coming”.
Bear Thugs and Seton Hall Thugs both upstanding Christian Universities.
At least Seton Hall fired the coach, but Baylor did nothing. Thats Baylor.
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Hey Bevo, what’s that about “declawing Kentucky?” Texas’s awesomely talented team CHOKES AGAIN! Hawhawhawhawhawhawhawhawhaw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I say put pads on basketball players and let em have at it!!! Would be fun to watch a combination of UFC and basketball, especially the girls. What’s more sexy than a cat fight? lol
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TuT will have their head handed to them on a platter!!!
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team_bevo, one and done for your team! How about you join your whorns and go on vacation now too?
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