Just me, or are the refs really protecting Oden?

**herbicide** · 04-02-2007, 10:16 PM

It really seems like the calls are only going one way here. FL getting called for everything, OSU getting away with grabs and huge body contact during blocks.

**isuarch80** · 04-02-2007, 10:24 PM

i just posted this same thing on another post... Oden has not gotten one of those little pesky fouls that all of Florida has gotten...extremely annoying

**isuarch80** · 04-02-2007, 10:25 PM

Oh, and obviously Oden can't be THE guy for this team... this whole tourney OSU played tons better with Oden on the bench and then he plays the entire game and they're down double digits the entire game... unbelievable...

**price26** · 04-02-2007, 10:32 PM

Well Florida's gameplan coming in was to foul Oden and make him earn them from the line, when you start the game attacking him, in the second half you're bound to get the refs with trigger happy whistles, Florida brought it on themselves.

And Oden was the guy for that team, he just didn't have any help this game from the perimeter, they went like 4 of 25 from 3-point range, meanwhile Oden was just dominating the inside game.

**isuarch80** · 04-02-2007, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by price26

And Oden was the guy for that team, he just didn't have any help this game from the perimeter, they went like 4 of 25 from 3-point range, meanwhile Oden was just dominating the inside game.

Remember that this same OSU team was flying around the court, running teams off the court, and simply the best team all around when Oden wasn't scoring or when he wasn't even ON the court...he couldn't take on the Gators tonight by himself and that was the game plan... that's where Florida was smarter.

**herbicide** · 04-02-2007, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by price26

Well Florida's gameplan coming in was to foul Oden and make him earn them from the line, when you start the game attacking him, in the second half you're bound to get the refs with trigger happy whistles, Florida brought it on themselves.

And Oden was the guy for that team, he just didn't have any help this game from the perimeter, they went like 4 of 25 from 3-point range, meanwhile Oden was just dominating the inside game.

But Florida was getting called for things that OSU weren't.

I for one rooted for Florida. Do you ever think 3 1st rounders will return for their senior years after winning a title again? That and how they play is truly a team. That is why I rooted for them, and thought they would repeat before the season ever started.

**isuarch80** · 04-02-2007, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by herbicide

I for one rooted for Florida. Do you ever think 3 1st rounders will return for their senior years after winning a title again?

They're all juniors by the way...they have one more season I believe. The only starter that has to leave is Humphrey. He's the senior starter.

**rd4isu** · 04-02-2007, 10:39 PM

Was anybody else annoyed with Billy Packer's worshipping of Oden? Even suggested that he get the MOP of the tournament from the losing team! Give it a rest old man.

**price26** · 04-02-2007, 10:40 PM

But when you start out with the intention of fouling him at the start of the game you set the tone for refs who get whistle happy because they think you are going with the intention of fouling.

Ohio State hadn't established that at the other end. The refs are set up to be a little more sensitive to blow the whistle because of the precedent that had been set.

I was hoping Ohio State would win just to save a little pride in my bracket. But I'm happy for the kids who spurned the NBA and came back to do what they set out to accomplish, and although it is unlikely they will all return again (if any) it would be nice to see.

**AirWalke** · 04-02-2007, 10:41 PM

So, is it time to start hating Florida now? Two national "chomp"ionships in basketball, a national championship in football, all within about a year of each other? Let 'em enjoy it I guess.

I was rooting for Florida for the reason herbicide did; it's not often potential first-rounders return for another year after a championship, only to be in the same place they were a year ago.

**herbicide** · 04-02-2007, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by isuarch80

They're all juniors by the way...they have one more season I believe. The only starter that has to leave is Humphrey. He's the senior starter.

My bad. with that in mind, I doubt they return next year, I know I wouldn't

**isuarch80** · 04-02-2007, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by price26

But when you start out with the intention of fouling him at the start of the game you set the tone for refs who get whistle happy because they think you are going with the intention of fouling.

No team comes out wanting to foul anyone... that's ridiculous. Come on now. Only because stupid Packer kept saying "They have 3 guys to bang Oden" and "Richards is in there to use 5 fouls" do we think that's the plan, but the plan was to be physical and see if they could take Oden out of the game, not foul out their entire front line. And it worked, seeing as Oden could barely jump in the last 2 minutes of the game because he was phycially worn out...

**isuarch80** · 04-02-2007, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by herbicide

My bad. with that in mind, I doubt they return next year, I know I wouldn't

This year, IMO, is going to be like UNC two years ago... Florida loses Humphrey and Richards (the two seniors - Richards was the other big guy off the bench) and Brewer, Noah and Horford are all gone, and possibly T Green. They'll reload though...