It's not just the refs who blew the game -- I really believe it's the game itself. Basketball as a sport has plateaued and I believe it's because of the way it's now being played. I've watched basketball since the early 60's when you could watch a team with finesse play basketball the way Nasmith wanted it played. Watch the Celtics of the Bill Russell era and you will see what I mean. Today ballplayers push and shove their way to titles and many viewers are getting turned off by that. Look at the regular season attendance for some of the big money teams. Attendance is down everywhere and it's not just because of the price of the tix either. I believe it's the quality of the product that's hurting attendance. If the corporations didn't buy up the majority of the tix there wouldn't be many showing up at all.
Why do I say this? I began watching D3 basketball a number of years ago because it was being played at a purer level than at the pro and D1 levels. Dunking wasn't every other shot (real talent there if you're 6'11") the way we see today. A premium was being paid for strategy and passing. Yesterday's game reminded me more of the ugly way that D1/pro's play their game. And I, for one, was hoping for a cleaner game. And if you weren't watching b-ball 40 years ago you have no clue about how the game should be played.
Why do I say this? I began watching D3 basketball a number of years ago because it was being played at a purer level than at the pro and D1 levels. Dunking wasn't every other shot (real talent there if you're 6'11") the way we see today. A premium was being paid for strategy and passing. Yesterday's game reminded me more of the ugly way that D1/pro's play their game. And I, for one, was hoping for a cleaner game. And if you weren't watching b-ball 40 years ago you have no clue about how the game should be played.