Length of games increasing?

[bourbonman]

Is it my age, lack of patience, style of play in games, or has the length of the time it takes to play a game this year increased dramatically? Last nights game seemed to go on forever. I feel this is the same with other games this year, especially the BE games. Thoughts?

[vee4xu]

Calling 50 fouls will do that. As for your getting old: the answer is yes!
:-)

[nuts4xu]

My first thought is the length of the games is likely tied to the new rules, designed to cut down on physical play. The gawd awful refs working last nights game called 50 fouls....enough to foul out 10 players. This forces the game past the 2 hour mark most every time.

We have a lot of games with this many fouls called this season. It seems there has to be a correlation between the number of fouls called and increased length of the game.

[drudy23]

The refs that think we're there to watch them.

[XUFan09]

The stoppages of play seemed to last longer too. "Okay, he traveled. Go ahead and hand the other team the ball so he can inbound it. No need to hang out for a bit."

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[casualfan]

One thing I have noticed is that any of the games played on any of the fox channels don't actually start when they are supposed to. If it is a 7:00 tip it usually tips around 7:10 or so.

Then the 9:00 games tip about 10 after at the earliest, but that can be pushed back if the game in front of it isn't done in time.

It's nice when I'm at home watching games because I know when all the games on the ESPN's go to halftime at the same time that whatever game is on FS1 is probably not there yet. Having said that it blows ass for the games I go to, especially if it's a 9:00 game on a weeknight.

[xubrew]

Part of it is that more fouls are being called.

Another part of it is that refs are going to video replay more frequently, and taking a longer time to decide calls, even when the calls really aren't that critical.

Here is how you remedy that. I know the replay standards in basketball are different than football, but they shouldn't be. There should be conclusive video evidence. The key word being "CONCLUSIVE." So, if a call is made on the floor, and they go to video replay to review it, CONCLUSIVE evidence should be both obvious and immediate. If it takes more than 90 seconds (or even just 60 seconds) to review a play, then by definition it cannot be conclusive, and the call that was made on the floor should stand, and we should get back to the game. Taking five minutes to adjust the clock is ridiculous.

[Kahns Krazy]

Was anyone else surprised that they didn't go to the replay when Semaj got poked in the eye?

The game time is annoying. I know they can play a game in two hours, but they are taking over two and a half. In a game like last night that was decided well before the end of the game the last 30 minutes are painfully slow.

[xufan2434]

I don't know if it's just because X has played a lot of close games this year or not but another thing I've noticed are the uses of the time outs. I feel like Mack or the opposing coach have used time outs this year right around 4 minute interval mark. It feels like every game there's at least twice where a timeout is called, one possession is played, then it's time for the media timeout. THAT as well takes away from the rhythm of the game.

[vee4xu]

Games called like last night's X game makes me wonder if refs have conference calls to determine if what the set out the year focusing upon is going the way they want. Specifically, hand checking. It's getting close to March and maybe the refs have to remind those playing into March that these are the rules. Or, is it as simple as the three refs in a particular game agreeing on what they'll focus on that particular night. Or, is it that group of refs always focus a certain way that normally leads to either few or many fouls being called.

If there are any experienced big division high school or any division college refs out there willing to opine, that would be much appreciated.

[Ledgewood]

With the fouls being called the way they are and the amount of tv timeouts, they need to get rid of, like, half of the timeouts teams can call.

Watching two of the games this season recorded on a DVR was amazing.

[toledodan]

i love me some xavier hoops but last nights game was brutal to watch on tv. i could only imagine how it was in person esp late in the second half.

[toledodan]

With the fouls being called the way they are and the amount of tv timeouts, they need to get rid of, like, half of the timeouts teams can call.

Watching two of the games this season recorded on a DVR was amazing.

yeah i set my dvr for 30 mins extra. just about ran out of time last night lol.

[paulxu]

i love me some xavier hoops but last nights game was brutal to watch on tv. i could only imagine how it was in person esp late in the second half.

No need to imagine. At any point after the 14 minute mark in the second half there weren't any "in persons" left.

[Cheesehead]

I was there and it was brutal in person. I also was also miffed how 3 refs had to go to the monitor 3 minutes into the game for a possession call. Really? All three of you missed it? Just make the call and move on.

Way too many fouls for my taste.

[XUFan09]

With the fouls being called the way they are and the amount of tv timeouts, they need to get rid of, like, half of the timeouts teams can call.

Watching two of the games this season recorded on a DVR was amazing.

I'd sooner cut down on TV timeouts, so coaches' hands aren't tied for runs or end-of-game scenarios. Of course, I'm not sure how those profiting from those timeouts would feel about that...

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[Music City Muskie]

Imagine what it was like for me facing a 4.5 hr drive home and then work the next morning at 6 AM. Brutal. I was pacing, hoping the refs would swallow the whistles. I agree, TV timeouts are killers but they're going to get in as many ads as possible. The downside to having more of our games on TV now.

[Pault]

Division 1 game length is PRIMARILY dictated by excessive timeouts, and length of timeouts, excessive reviews by the officials to "get the call right," coming out of timeouts slowly and other factors extraneous to the quality of the officiating. Of course, rough play and fouls have to be called, regardless of the level of the perceived competence of the officiating crew. When I read the officiating was "god-awful," my first reaction is "based upon what?" The critic had another engagement to get to, you think you know the rules or how to officiate, you listen to the commentators who also think they know the rules or how to officiate, or your team was losing. Pick one, or pick all of those views...it matters not, as the games will proceed with or without you viewing them!

[nuts4xu]

When I read the officiating was "god-awful," my first reaction is "based upon what?"

Ok sport, I will play along. I don't know if you are some sort of ref or something, but I don't know anyone who has defended the officiating. But since you asked "based on what", I will fill you in on why I made that comment.

They were awful based on their inconsistent foul calling, the calls they flat out missed (Jalen Reynolds first 2 fouls were complete phantom calls), the fact they had 3 refs on the floor and still had to go to the monitor 3 times. At the beginning of the season there was an emphasis on "cleaning up the game". High numbers of fouls were called, but this dropped off about the start of conference play. Now we get a crew of refs that still wants to focus on hand checks and the like, and they can't even call all the fouls they see.

Any game with 50 fouls is absurd. especially a 20 point blow out. The refs were fu**ing terrible on Wednesday, and you don't have to be John Adams (NCAA men's basketball officiating coordinator) to see how badly that game was called.

[drudy23]

Division 1 game length is PRIMARILY dictated by excessive timeouts, and length of timeouts, excessive reviews by the officials to "get the call right," coming out of timeouts slowly and other factors extraneous to the quality of the officiating. Of course, rough play and fouls have to be called, regardless of the level of the perceived competence of the officiating crew. When I read the officiating was "god-awful," my first reaction is "based upon what?" The critic had another engagement to get to, you think you know the rules or how to officiate, you listen to the commentators who also think they know the rules or how to officiate, or your team was losing. Pick one, or pick all of those views...it matters not, as the games will proceed with or without you viewing them!

Um...what?

[Masterofreality]

3 things.

A) TV. Fox (and every other network paying rights fees) are going to cram as many ads as they can in the every 4 minute segments. Also, Fox wants to have their Pre-game commentator set-ups so expect starts at 7:05-7:10. The media timeouts now are just about as long as the ones in NCAA Tournament games...not 1-2 minutes but 4 minutes..or sometimes more.

B) Coaches who stretch the rules on T.O's...and get away with it. Buzz Williams will have an entire Physics Class whenever there is a stoppage of play, including when one of his guys fouls out. The freaking Marquette game at Cintas lasted almost 2:40 and some of that was that Williams was allowed to keep his guys in a huddle for ridiculous amounts of time even after the buzzer went off twice. That is on the refs. Call a freaking T, for Gawds sake.

C) Officiating in all respects...the number of fouls, but also the number of video reviews. The other night when they went to a monitor to, I guess, see if James Farr tipped a pass out of bounds or to check a clock was ludicrous. They had made a call, stick with it and move on. That wasted 5 minutes right there. I get that you want to get the call right, but use some good judgement as to when.

[Pault]

OK sport...back at ya...your handle "nuts4XU" says it all...read Masterofreality for an improved version of my point...and frankly, I agree with much of the criticism, but question the objectivity of those "evaluating" the officials. Sure they miss calls...they also help control the game...they also make calls the average fan (see "nuts4XU") doesn't see...at high speed much of the time. Much criticism of the calls is done after slo-mo replay...every official wants to nail every call, but the human element creeps in, just the same as turnovers by players, and bad strategy by coaches. OK SPORT?