Writer: Arash Markazi
Game: Marquette-Stanford
Post Time: 11:03 p.m., Saturday
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Brook Lopez wishes he could describe his game-winning shot against Marquette, which sent Stanford to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2001. He really does, but he probably had the worst view in the building.
"I was pretty much watching from behind the backboard the whole time and the ground," said Lopez, who got knocked down after releasing the baseline leaner. "I think I got a nice bounce or something."
Lopez, who scored eight of Stanford's 11 points in overtime, had to stretch his arms in front of the basket and contort his body over Marquette's Dwight Burke for the game-winning shot which gave Stanford an 82-81 lead over Marquette with 1.3 seconds left.
Had Trent Johnson stayed around long enough, he would have had a good view of the shot from the Stanford bench. As it was, he was pacing around the Stanford locker room by himself after being ejected with 3:36 left in the first half.
Johnson, who had already received a technical for arguing a foul outside the coach's box, was assessed his second for continuing to argue a call, walking onto the court during what was supposed to be a media timeout.
"During a timeout, coaches are allowed to stay in the vicinity of their bench," said referee Curtis Shaw, who ejected Johnson. "They are not allowed to walk onto the floor and continue to complain. He was warned visibly with a "stop" sign. ‘Trent, that's enough.'"
Shaw, who had given both teams a bench warning early in the game for standing up, has been known to have a penchant for calling excessive fouls. In 100 games officiated this season, he leads the nation in most fouls called (3,927), most technical fouls called (48) and most ejections (5), according to statsheet.com.
After the game, Johnson deflected questions about what he told the officials and took the blame for his ejection. "I was out of line," said Johnson. "Bottom line, I was trying to fight for my kids...obviously if they're going to play this way I think I need to stay away from the games all the time."
Damaris Lewis
Brooklyn Decker
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Comments (4) Add A Comment
Surprising amount of class from Johnson after the game, even poking fun at himself. How heart-wrenching must it be to watch your team from the sidelines?...wait...
Saltalamacchia for…
New York, NY
Total Comments (260)
The nature of refereeing is that it's a textbook illustration of the Peter Principal: rising in the ranks until one reaches the level of one's incompetence. There are few competent refs for several reasons. It's not a full-time professional job (at least in college, far as I know.) The purveyors of the sport do not require courts built to aid refs (a 5-foot "clear zone" all the way around the court so refs could run (There's a concept) with the players up & down., Despite exceptions like Shaw, most refs try hard--it''s just that they're asked to do more than they can.
Bill Rogers
Lodi , CA
Total Comments (5)
Dwight "Lewis"? Jebus, were you even at the game? Try Burke.
joereims
Seattle , WA
Total Comments (1)
Officials need to have thicker skin. If you're going to give a head coach the "hook", then you really should be able to look back and say "I had no other option." These officials had options. They overreacted because of their egos.
Shook
Summit Station , OH
Total Comments (1)
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