The Aboya play
I spoke to to Bill McCabe, the Pac-10's coordinator of men's basketball officiating, about the play involving Washington's Tim Morris throwing the in-bounds pass off the face of UCLA's Alfred Aboya.
McCabe said he has not yet reviewed the tape (he expects to do so tonight) but did offer this response when asked about the philosophy of the rule.
"You can't throw the ball at a player if it's an unsporting act,'' McCabe said. "If you were trying to throw the ball off someone and have it go out-of-bounds, than it is open to interpretation."
Mr. McCabe, please watch the replay slowly. Pay special attention to the look on Morris' face as he hurls the ball as hard as he can directly where he is looking; at Aboya's grill. Notice also how he is walking away from the play even as he is throwing it, to make sure he is not next to the Bruin bench. We are curious to see what your interpretation is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZXPAl4-8f8
"open to interpretation"
A point blank free shot at Alfred's face.
How about one of our players, waiting until 4 seconds tick off, then hurling the ball off the head of an opponent while his back his back is turned? Then let's see what type of interpretation we get.
Teams have begun taking shots at UCLA since the SC game. SC, UofA now UW having been going above and beyond. It's a sign of desperation. UCLA needs to be extra physical with these teams.
I have coached on the high school and Jr. high level for 33 years, the rule is throw it of anything from the knees down....simple BUSH LEAGUE PLAY...no balls from the refs a U/S should have been called.
That was a cheap shot if I ever saw one. If I was the UDub player who threw the ball at Aboya, I would watch my back the next time UDub plays the Bruins. I have to say that looking at Aboya's stature, he would be the last player I would want to take such a blatant cheap shot. UDub definitely hid behind the officials during that game.
drbruin: you are right what goes around comes around SMILE
After 30+ years of basketball I have never seen anyone deliberately rifle a ball into another player's face on an inbound play. Morris would not survive on the play ground nor in the NBA (he'll never make it there anyway) doing something like that. To have it ignored by the ref who was standing 2 feet away is shocking.
I wasn't really mad about it til I saw the youtube shots closeup. He could easily have thrown it off Aboya's legs or something. What he did is wind up and throw it hard as he could. If the commish of refs for the conference doesn't watch the closeup, he could dismiss it as "a mistake while trying to get the ball in" or even a "misguided effort to throw it off the defender."
That's NOT what it was. Aboya and the Bruin D (for once in the game) had him frustrated, and Morris sent him a message. If the conference doesn't send one back, they are asking for trouble, allowing a level of aggressiveness that will backfire sooner or later and lead to someone getting hurt seriously.
This is a game that Wasington won. They played great. They beat us into the dirt. They out hustled and out fought us all the way. But that Morris play is putrid and needs to be addressed
Did you ask why Dave Libby is still employed? If he's the commissioner of Pac-10 officials then he might want to look for a new job because Pac-10 officials are terrible.
As Bruins, we don't need to retaliate and stoop to that level. I have the utmost respect for Aboya keeping his cool. Not many people would've done the same.
If a UCLA player did that, I hope as UCLA fans, we would be all over it and not condone that type of play. Unfortunately and disgustingly, UDUB fans have dismissed it as 'part of the game'.
After seeing the rules, the whole thing is even more upsetting. Knowing that "you can't throw the ball off someone in an unsporting act" is the actual rule? HELLO?! What Morris did is the definition of unsportsmanlike. I hope we meet again at Staples Center...
I totally agree Bruin_Bry. I would be embarassed if a UCLA player did something like that. Alfred showed a lot of class by walking away. I think if that happened in the NBA there would be a brawl!
"SC, UofA now UW having been going above and beyond."
What were the instances in the SC game where the Trojans went "above and beyond?" Unless you are considering the Jefferson dunk over Kevin Love.
"I have coached on the high school and Jr. high level for 33 years, the rule is throw it of anything from the knees down."
Funny. I coached and officiated before and I have never seen this rule. Please tell me what rule it is. I'm guessing it will take awhile for you to get back to me.
PLH55: It is a rule amoung coaches.
PLH55 - thank you so much for taking the time to repeatedly post mean-spirited, pro-USC rants on a UCLA message board.
You clearly are a very classy individual, and we're all really impressed by your sharp wit and uppity insults.
You're the best. Stay cool, big guy.
PLH55 - go back to your glorified junior college in the ghetto. thanks.
plh55- SC went above and beyond when hackett gave Mata a bit of elbow music while landing on his face, which he subsequently received a concussion.
Oh please Quinn! There is no one, including Bruin coaches or players who would say that Hackett did anything intentionally with that elbow. It was two players who play hard going for the rebound.
At least Quinn had an argument to make, unlike the other two who just decided to poke fun at me and USC.
Oh and Douggie...let me know which coaches you have personally talked with about this. I'm willing to bet its a big zero, at least at any level over park and rec.
Not poking fun at all, PLH55. I think you're really, really awesome, the way you come on to a UCLA message board and taunt the fans and demonstrate complete disrespect for us. AWESOME. And Classy.
I mean it. You are THE BEST. I really hope we can hang out some time.
If McCabe doesn't make the right decision on that play, I'm thinking of hurling my basketball right at him to let him feel what Alfred experienced. I wonder if that might help change his perspective?
PLH55:
I live and coach in the midwest after growing up in the west...think about..........
Hey Billy Bruin, I did not know that all ucla fans were so classy and intelligent as you. I recall a couple weeks ago being the lone USC fan sitting right next to the ucla student section at lovely Pauley Pavillion. I remember hearing the F word directed towards me at least 100 times I think. Even after my team won the game I was getting sworn at and stuff thrown at me by old timers sitting behind me. Now is that the way a classy University like yours should act? And all you guys come on here crying because a ball went off Aboyas face. Who cares. And if the rule really is the ball has to be thrown below the knees, how much ya'll wanna bet when Collison or Westbrook threw the ball off defenders backs under the basket you guys were laughing and thinking what a great play. ucla fans are the biggest cryers. I know its tough cause you lost football and cannot even have basketball in your own home town. But dont worry Gymnastics season is coming up and USC does not have that. First to 100 remember. Haha!
Oh and BruinGirl, don't be calling out Morris saying he would never make it on the play ground or the NBA. Aboya has no chance in hell at playing in the NBA. We all know Aboya can make it on the play ground cause its pretty easy when your prob. like 26 or 27 years old playing the little boys. And the reason Moute is out is not sprained ankle, its arthritis cause no one knows how old he relly is. And yes I know i'll hear the Taj Gibson comments but at least we know he is from the US and have a legit birth certificate saying he is 22.
Oh and BruinGirl, don't be calling out Morris saying he would never make it on the play ground or the NBA. Aboya has no chance in hell at playing in the NBA. We all know Aboya can make it on the play ground cause its pretty easy when your prob. like 26 or 27 years old playing the little boys. And the reason Moute is out is not sprained ankle, its arthritis cause no one knows how old he relly is. And yes I know i'll hear the Taj Gibson comments but at least we know he is from the US and have a legit birth certificate saying he is 22.
booty11 and PLH55:
Love you guys, it takes me away from the KU fans back here in the midwest, Oh they know more about basketball the you SC fans, so heep it coming
No you keep it coming. You have coached Junior High and High school basketball for 33 years. You are most definately the most knowledgeable on any basketball subject. But as my good friend PLH55 has stated, I still do not see you showing us anywhere that it was an illegal play. Oh but wait it is a rule among coaches. Wat the hell does that mean? I only care if it is a rule among officials moron! Quit crying the game was oveer anyway! Take a loss like a man.
It has becmoe obvious that you tok my comment ot of context, THERE IS NO OFFICAL RULE ABOUT THROWING A BALL OFF OF SOMEONES FACE. I call it SPORTSMENSHIP OR RESPECT AMOUNG COACHES FRO OTHER PLAYERS. ALL THE COACHES AND OFFICCALS I TALKED TO ALL WEEK CONCURED WITH MY ASSESSMENT THANK YOU SIR. I am in a district that has 30,000 kids and plenty of coaches. I never cry about a loss and never blamed the loss on ONE ISSUE. To lose is to lose, UCLA could not hit there ass with either hand they should of got beat. I am a Sp. Ed teacher who works with Behavior Disorder kids and could work up an IEP for you and PLH55 on Socail Skills (SMILE). But I will take my 30 plus years and my moron attitude and my .822 winning percentage thank you Sir.
Haha did you just say your winning percentage is .822? Well I coached Junior High for 2 years and was undefeated. So i'm better! Haha that is hilarious. Who on here would care about you at all? This is for basketball posts involving ucla, not your carrer achievments or winning perecentage. Although maybe we should tell Coach Howland to watch out cause he could have some competition soon!
Botty11: Like you said I know nothing about basketball and you do...keep smiling you need all the help you can get. My offer still goes for you and PLH55, I can write and IEP up for both of you on how to use proper Social Skills in dealing with people.....