Final score: Bradley 83 UIC 76

[Bball31]

Couldn't agree more, Coach, and if this season is going to be one of those years where the refs want to blow the whistle every minute of every game, we are going to struggle. BW teams don't do well when the refs try to be the stars of the game. The last 3 games in particular have been terrible.

Both teams play with the same referees on the floor. Good teams and good coaches adjust to how a game is being called. The teams and coaches that adjust, usually win the game. The teams and coaches that don’t, usually lose the game and the fans blame the loss on the officials. I don’t believe referees care which team wins the game.

[Bradley8792]

[QUOTE=Bball31;n506829]

Both teams play with the same referees on the floor. Good teams and good coaches adjust to how a game is being called.

Agreed. Bradley was called for 22 fouls, UIC 20. I doubt more than 10% of either teams fouls were wrong. It’s more concerning when you foul your opponent, they make both free throws and you only make one free throw when your fouled.

[Tommy]

Both teams play with the same referees on the floor. Good teams and good coaches adjust to how a game is being called. The teams and coaches that adjust, usually win the game. The teams and coaches that don’t, usually lose the game and the fans blame the loss on the officials. I don’t believe referees care which team wins the game.

That's not the point. It's not a matter of whether the referees are favoring one side or another, it's the matter of game flow. If the whistle is being blown every minute of play, it's hard to get into any type of rhythm and BU is a team that thrives on that. Yeah sure, both teams have to play with the same refs, but just because the foul calling is close at the end of the game, that doesn't tell the whole story. Often times the fouls get much closer near the end of the game because one team is trying to save time on the clock, and to imply that all fouls are created equal would be ludicrous on it's face. There are fouls that are momentum killers and some that are lead changing. This doesn't even take into account technical fouls, such as the terrible T called on Wardle while he was in the huddle. But I digress.

I'll agree with one thing you said, good teams and good coaches adjust to how a game is being called and BU has beaten both ISU red and UIC, so we have a good coach. My main point was it is not enjoyable or beneficial to have 40 fouls called in a game and I would venture to guess most fans that attend the game would agree with me.

Lastly, I don't think I said anywhere in my post anything about blaming the refs. The 3 worst officiated games this year for BU have all been wins (ISU Blue, ISU Red, and UIC). Doesn't change the fact that the officiating was abysmal and I don't ever like to see play stopped every 60 seconds.

[Da Coach]

Teams play different styles, and have widely different types of players. This year, Bradley has more size and athleticism than I can recall for many years, and they play more physically. So when a game is called like the UIC game where trivial, non-consequential contact, even away from the ball, is called fouls, it can take the best players off the floor for substantial parts of the game. I think most coaches will say that calling a game "tight" hurts a team like Bradley, and benefits a team like UIC who doesn't have much size and shies away from contact. On the other hand, when officials allow more contact, it can benefit a team like Bradley, and in a number of games it has. The Indiana State game was such an example, IMO.
I think most fans just want to see consistency within each game, and game-to-game.