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ACC: Duke Should Get ‘L,’ Not ‘W’ Against Virginia

By Aaron Ferguson

Nov 8, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski talks to guard Grayson Allen (3) from the sidelines in their game against the Central Missouri Mules at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski talks to guard Grayson Allen (3) from the sidelines in their game against the Central Missouri Mules at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Duke Blue Devils got a win against their ACC rival Virginia Cavaliers on a buzzer-beating shot from Grayson Allen, but Virginia should have been credited with the win.

Duke beat their conference rival Virginia on a buzzer beater from sophomore guard Grayson Allen. After further review the shot should not have counted and Virginia (20-5, 9-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) should be given their 10th conference win of the season.

Instead, Duke (19-6, 8-4) draws closer to their arch-rival North Carolina Tar Heels (20-4, 9-2) in advance of their primetime showdown on Wednesday. Meanwhile Virginia is one of three teams with an ACC-leading nine conference wins. The miscue in officiating could cost the Cavs when it comes time to the important seeding for the ACC tournament.

Duke is involved in a controversial call for the second time in four months, when its football team lost to Miami on a poorly officiated play. Miami used eight laterals to return the kickoff for a touchdown to beat Duke 30-27. However, in that play the officials missed, even after review, a Miami player’s knee down on the ground, which would have resulted in the game ending.

Officials also threw a flag for a block in the back, but then improperly picked the flag up after review.

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This time around, Duke is the beneficiary of a blown call. In fact, Allen could have been called for two infractions on his heroic shot to beat Virginia 63-62. Allen inbounded the pass on the final play and got the ball back. He was matched up one-on-one with Virginia defender Marial Shayok and drove at him towards the rim.

Allen’s shot was off with 0.3 seconds left and in plenty of time to count.

But the two violations he committed proved costly. ACC officials Bryan Kersey, Tim Nestor and Terry Wymer missed two traveling violations, one on an up-and-down. As Campus Insider’s analysis video shows, Allen leaped up off of his pivot foot and while delaying his shot landed again on his pivot foot before he released the shot.

Therefore, Virginia, not Duke, should be credited with the win.

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ESPN’s Andy Katz talked with a coordinator of officials, who agreed that Allen’s shot should have been a travel.

“It was really close,” the official said. “I didn’t slow it down and freeze frame but I thought his foot hit before he released shot.”

Katz also talked with a 30-year retired college basketball official who also agrees that Allen traveled.

“Just saw Allen play,” he said. “Travel. When you stop dribble in the air, the foot you land on is a pivot foot. When you lift that foot, you must pass or shoot before it hits the ground again.”

Admittedly, it is tough to see in real time. But even with review officials could not have overturned it. According to pages 98-101 of the 2013-14 and 2014-15 NCAA Men’s Basketball rules, a travel is not a play that can be reviewed or overturned by instant replay.

Given the situation the only review that could take place is if the shot went through the net before the clock read zero, or if the shot was not off of Allen’s fingers before the clock read zero.

The referees handled the situation properly once they got to the replay monitor. Before that is a different story, as the missed a big travel on Allen, aside from the fact that he took four steps. The game will stand as called, since the proper call was not made on the final play. The loss costs Virginia their chance to snap a 21-game losing streak at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

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Duke is now in fifth place in the ACC standings, where they would be seventh if they lost. Virginia is now tied for third place and would be alone in second place if they won the game.