Excessive celebration?
Apparently, Devan Downey better watch it from now on after he hits a big shot. And if Mike Holmes dunks on somebody, he better just run down court and not even smile.
Well, who knows if it’ll be that drastic, but the NCAA is set to crack down on excessive celebration in men’s basketball, according to reports out of ACC media days.
ACC coordinator of basketball officials John Clougherty made the announcement at that league’s media event on Sunday. According to The Raleigh News and Observer, Clougherty said there will be “zero tolerance” on such things as a player gesturing to fans or “hulking” over a player after a dunk.
“Act like you’ve been there before, we tell them,” Clougherty said he told players and coaches in meetings, according to the News and Observer.
This new point of emphasis escaped notice at the recent SEC men’s basketball media days, probably because coordinator of officials Gerald Boudreaux did not give an address, as he normally does. (To be fair, Boudreaux was around the hallways and available to speak to the media, but normally the point of emphasis is addressed during the podium presentation.)
So will this affect the Gamecocks? Downey, while an outgoing personality, isn’t known for taunting or talking to fans. Holmes has had some technicals, but they tend to be of the Rasheed Wallace variety, so this will just be another thing he needs to worry about. Sam Muldrow and Dominique Archie aren’t exactly emotional.
Maybe someone who should worry is Evka Baniulis. The senior forward has always liked to exchange smiles and friendly words with home fans, which has always seemed harmless. But if an official takes the point of emphasis a bit too seriously, we could more than a few A.J. Green situations.
6 Comments to “Excessive celebration?”
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State newspaper sports writer Seth Emerson blogs on University of South Carolina basketball and baseball.
Not again! They’re doing what the SEC refs did to Georgia and LSU in football. Sure no taunting but you know how easy this can become to the point of insanity? Very very easily. Given the track record for SEC football refs I am not at all certain that the basketball refs will be any better. Home cooking can go on here ( a.k.a Duke home game).
This is ridiculous………I mean, are they really gonna call a technical foul when we’re down 15 and come back, and downey causes a turnover and pumps his fist and yells at the crowd to get into it???? Emotion is part of the game……it what causes momentum swings…….yeah, taunting is one thing in itself, but i mean stuff like Steve wojo slapping the floor…..is that gonna be a technical??? So George mason players can’t get excited that they are hanging in with Uconn and matching Uconn shot for shot???? i mean a couple years ago when we were down against CofC and Zam Frederick knocked down 3 after 3……..Downey, can’t go up and shove Zam in excitement???? that’s gonna be a technical???? C’mon now…..I hope they at least let the refs use common sense!!!!
I hope one day we have crowds walk out of stadiums and arenas in protest for all of this that is the only way you can keep all these suits from trying to micromanage the emotion out of these kids. I would love to embarrass the NCAA with some empty arenas when fans just walk out in protest and TV is there to show it on TV.
South Carolina has a basketball team? What, dear Lord, could they possibly be excessively celebrating?
Guess I’ll pass word of this story to those who actually win stuff. Coach Pearl comes to mind. I’ll let him know for you.
ShoalcreekTROL
Why don’t you give Coach Pearl a necklace while you’re at it…
Nice, Travelin, nice. I assume you chose the name “Travelin” in honor of SC’s backcourt?
Don’t worry, you guys have a solid coach now and I’m sure you’ll be up to at least 5th in the division soon. In SC terms, that’s worthy of ordering rings and making a trip to the Governors Mansion.
I can’t blame you for being jealous that we have a better basketball coach and program than SC, but the fact that our football coach is so much better than yours should concern you. You guys WAY overpaid for Mr. Constipated Face. Of course, he didn’t look constipated before taking the SC job…