IT WAS THE WRONG CALL (VT vs Villanova)

I got into an argument with my dad a few weeks ago when discussing the inbounds play that Villanova used to draw a foul against VT in the final seconds of regulation. For those of you that don't remember:

Play in question

I argued that in order for that to be a foul on the defense, you would have to evaluate the size of the players, force, and intent on every single screen that is set in the game. Setting a good screen often requires contact - if the defensive player is running full speed then a big collision will occur. You see this a lot with screens in the backcourt and usually defending point guards get wrecked by centers that are setting screens.

My dad cited a few examples of where coaches have used this tactic in the past and got the call. He said that Dean Smith used this play in the final minutes of a championship game or final 4 game way back in the 70s and did not get the call and potentially cost UNC the game (he couldn't remember exactly which game).

Well, as usual, I was correct and my dad was wrong. Per the NCAA rule book Sec 21, Article 5:

A player who is screened outside his visual field may make inadvertent
contact with the screener. Such contact shall be incidental, provided that the
screener is not displaced when he has the ball.

In this case, the screener did not have the ball so contact should be deemed incidental.

Also, rule 4-35 in Section 2 states:

A foul shall be called when: ..... 6. The screener sets a "blind" screen (outside the visual field) on a moving defender and doesn't allow ample time to stop or change directions; usually one to two strides.

This part could be debated but I don't think Mutts had one or two strides after the Nova player was set.

Please let me know if you disagree with me but I am tired to hearing announcers say "They got the call right" and then don't take the time to look up the rules. Sick of the Duke's and Nova's getting the benefit of the doubt in these rare instances. Refs should be auditing their work after they make controversial calls that affect the outcome of games so that teams in the future don't get screwed.

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"Hokie religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." Han Solo