Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 21, 1990 TAG: 9003212174
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Virginia is eliminated when no foul is called on a turnaround jumper against Syracuse.
A technical foul against St. John's helps Duke rally for a victory.
Key calls by officials continue to influence tournament games. With 14 of the 48 games played decided by three points or fewer, some coaches have been driven into a frenzy.
Purdue's Gene Keady lost control Sunday, blistering the officials with an obscenity-laced diatribe after the Boilermakers lost 73-72 against Texas.
Hank Nichols, coordinator of officials for the NCAA, was at the Purdue-Texas game and thought Keady was off base. "He's an emotional guy," Nichols said. "And with everything on the line, guys will complain.
"I think most games in the tournament have been officiated pretty well. I don't say every play is called right, but if we're in the 92-94 percent range, we're doing what we should do."
Still, the complaints come. None is more prevalent than the charge-block controversy.
Virginia's two-point loss to Syracuse was decided in the final seconds when Derrick Coleman blocked Bryant Stith's last-second shot. Was there contact? Was it a foul? Cavaliers coach Terry Holland thought so, but didn't complain publicly.
"There are rules and guidelines to cover the charge-block call," Nichols said. "The ref must decide who the legal person was, offense or defense. Then, did the contact have an effect? It's an instant judgment.
by CNB