than what is needed, but the refs didn't look any better on TV than live in the IU game. Leal came out and was allowed to be very physical from the beginning. Had the refs tagged him early and I mean within seconds of the game it might have gone a long way to getting control and probably not resulted in Burgess having enough. Woody probably challenged them to be physical and they were, but the refs had a job to do as well. The inconsistency during the game was horrific and the fouls that were not fouls until the ref decided late that he should call something took place. I mean in a rivalry game you expect there is going to be a need to control the game early, but not sure they ever had control. I'm sure some IU fans share some sentiments as well, but Purdue certainly came out on the short end with the two major players being held back with fouls and other things let go? I can't imagine the reffing being any worse at IU and that is saying something for a place that earned the name Hall of Calls by a few basketball team fans.
There was the time very early Leal ran over Braden and no call. Didn't someone foul? There was the hooking with two bodies on the floor and no call. However, the one that can clearly be seen on TV easily is the clamping down by Leal where Braden turns and looks at Szelc maybe eight feet away while being held to make the call and Szelc actually shakes his head NO forcing another ref to make the call. Simply unbelievable.
Towards the final minutes Galloway is driving down the lane and on two occasions clearly takes his off arm out and pushes off. My eye sight is not that good in the gym and hoped that things wouldn't be so bad on TV, but they were. Now I was unaware after Rice's pass/shot hybrid that clearly shows his hands on the side of the ball as both hands push the ball that Ballo went after Rice...and then to not get in the handshake line...where was Goode since he was so effective to get Woody in the handshake line in the Maryland game?
Now Ballo was mad and Woody said later that he couldn't stop Rice even though he could and Goode I think it was threw the ball inbounds to Rice. Purdue was not up on them and Galloway was about the same distance vertically, but more to the side and Goode chose to throw it to Myles who was rushing down the court for his hybrid pass/shot move. Many critics are mad at Rice, but was he all to blame? Under the same scenario wouldn't Purdue make sure it got to Braden? Obviously the roles are more clear for Purdue than IU and some of that is just how good Braden is....but if Braden was not in the game...I'm guessing they look to CJ if possible.
Give IU credit for playing very hard and testing how far they could go with the refs. They were very good and even had some three balls go in that hadn't in the past. Next game will be interesting as they will try to make it a very physical game rather than a skill game and how the refs control the game. By the same token Purdue could try to replicate their physicality early and could get called if the refs set the tone early. IU has talent and not sure that game wasn't their best and winning at Bloomington will be another battle. IU and Purdue spend a lot of money (especially IU) to have talented players playing at a high level...both deserve better officials than we saw at Mackey
