Three Potential Violations On Kentucky Put-Back?

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Sorry, Kentucky fans.  It doesn’t look like this one’s going away.

Yesterday, we told you that a mini-furor had arisen regarding Eric Bledsoe’s missed free throw at the end of regulation in the SEC tournament finals… the miss that led to DeMarcus Cousins’ eventual game-tying lay-up.

John Wall was shown in replays to have crossed inside the three-point arc before Bledsoe’s shot hit the rim.  That’s a type of lane violation, though most folks I’ve talked to have never seen that particular part of the rule called.



But a check of the videotape shows THREE potential violations on the play:

1)  Bledsoe stepped over the free throw line before his shot hit the rim — lane violation

2)  Wall stepped inside the three-point arc before Bledsoe’s shot hit the rim — lane violation

3)  Darnell Dodson also stepped inside the three-point arc before Bledsoe’s shot hit the rim — lane violation



Even if you — like me — give the refs a pass on the three-point arc stuff, that still leaves a rather obvious violation by the shooter himself.

During a press conference yesterday, Rick Stansbury made it clear that he’s not happy about that.  “It’s a very obvious lane violation.  Both guys in that lane line up outside the 3-point line.” 

Leery of a potential fine from the league, Stansbury added, “I’m not talking about officiating, I’m talking about the play.”

Oh.

Stansbury did some research on the rule and after doing so, felt even more convinced that his team was jobbed.

“I’m just amazed in that situation, game on the line, you know he’s going to miss the free throw (intentionally), two officials watching it — we’re not talking about a foot.  We’re talking about eight feet.”

Kyle Veazey of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports that the rule appears to be pretty clear: a teammate of the free throw shooter can’t enter the arc until the shot hits the rim.  The shooter has to wait for the ball to hit the rim, too.

According to Stansbury, the fact that State’s Dee Bost also entered inside the three-point arc would make no difference.  In his view, the offensive player entered first, so the play should have been blown dead.

Stansbury said that his anger was limited to what happened on Sunday and not tied to State’s first game with Kentucky.  You might remember that MSU saw 10 calls go against them in the final eight minutes of their loss to the Wildcats in Starkville.  UK had no calls go against them in those closing minutes.  Cups and water bottles were tossed by fans, etc, etc.

“The first game, I put behind me.  I’m not a guy who cries over spilled milk very often.  This was a hard pill to swallow because this was not a judgement call.”



Personally, I wonder if the three-point arc part of the lane violation rule will now get more attention from referees and the media.  Most folks hadn’t heard of this issue prior to Sunday.  Even Stansbury had to do a little research on the subject.

In 2001, something called a “tuck rule” helped launch the New England Patriots to a Super Bowl title.  At the time, it was thought to be a tidbit in the rule book that would surely be tossed out after the season.  Well, it wasn’t thrown out.  And now you see a “tuck rule” call in a dozen football games each year.

The same could happen in this situation.

But dropping the Dodson/Wall part of the equation, the referees did clearly miss Bledsoe stepping over the line.  In that situation, I think it’s probably natural that their eyes went from his feet to the ball.  And he did stay in his stance for split-second or two before charging forward.

Of course, that won’t change the perception that SEC officials looked the other way. 

Sorry Cat fans.  I’m not a conspiracy guy, but the refs blew this one.  That means the folks in the tin foil hats now have some ammunition in their ray guns.