College basketball fans are missing the point when it comes to Tennessee, Zach Edey, and fouls
Tennessee Vols fans had some complaints about officiating on Sunday after UT's loss to Purdue in the Elite Eight. The Vols came up short against Purdue for a few reasons — they shot 38 percent from the field, they were out-rebounded 47-26, and they couldn't draw any fouls against Purdue center Zach Edey. That last […]
Tennessee Vols fans had some complaints about officiating on Sunday after UT's loss to Purdue in the Elite Eight.
The Vols came up short against Purdue for a few reasons — they shot 38 percent from the field, they were out-rebounded 47-26, and they couldn't draw any fouls against Purdue center Zach Edey.
That last part is what college basketball fans around the nation seem to be missing.
Complaints from Tennessee fans about officiating on Sunday afternoon were loud on social media. But the majority of those complaints weren't necessarily directed at the fouls that Edey drew from Tennessee. He's 7-foot-4 and he's a physical presence inside the paint. Of course he's going to draw a bunch of fouls. Big men in basketball have been doing it for decades.
The issue was that Edey wasn't called for his first foul until midway through the second half. And there were plenty of opportunities for the officials to call a foul or two (or three or four) against Edey.
Edey played 39 minutes and he was only called for one foul despite playing against one of the most physical teams in the nation. That's why Tennessee fans are frustrated.
Now, is that the only reason the Vols lost?
Of course not. Outside of Dalton Knecht, who hit 14 of the 31 shots he took, the Vols made only 10 shots from the field. That's obviously not going to get it done in the Elite Eight. Knecht was brilliant, but it takes a total team effort to get to the Final Four.
The Edey component, however, was understandably frustrating. He earned his 40 points. But he didn't earn the favorable whistle on the defensive end of the court. That part of his performance was a gift from the officials.
And look, I get it, college basketball fans, analysts, know-it-all bloggers, and social media users who are apparently the offspring of John Wooden himself love to pump up a great player and throw shade at anyone who dares question them. But the tape doesn't lie. Edey committed fouls that weren't called. And Purdue benefitted because of it. Do they still beat Tennessee if the game is called tighter on that end of the floor? Probably. But that doesn't mean Vols fans don't have a legit gripe.
Ultimately, it is what it is. Rick Barnes came up short again and Purdue is going to the Final Four. But surely folks across the nation can understand why Tennessee fans had a tough time swallowing this loss after the officials swallowed their whistle anytime the Vols had the ball.
