Michigan basketball coach Dusty May is trying to figure out Big Ten officiating, too

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When Michigan basketball and Northwestern went into overtime on Sunday afternoon at Crisler Center, the five-minute extra period tipped off at 4:12 p.m. It didn’t end until 4:43 p.m.

It took nearly 32 total minutes to play five minutes of game action and when considering the review that went more than three minutes at the end of regulation, it was upwards of 35 total minutes to get through the final 5:18 of the game. To make matters worse, in overtime Northwestern attempted five shots and Michigan only four, while the Wildcats shot 15 free throws and Michigan got off 10 tries.

It capped a game that saw 68 free throw attempts, 46 personal fouls (more than one per minute) and had players and coaches on both sides pulling out their hair out of frustration.

“I’m very, very frugal, so I’m not going to say anything to criticize the officials or any calls they made,” May said. “I mean it is what it is − play on.”

Michigan center Vladislav Goldin (50) attempts a free throw against Northwestern during the second half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.

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May was asked specifically postgame about a play involving his 7-foot-1 center Vladislav Goldin. It was at the end of overtime with 18 seconds left when U-M’s center had seemingly corralled a game-clinching rebound, but as he brought down his arms to clear space for the board, he elbowed a Wildcats defender in the face.

Northwestern head coach Chris Collins and an animated Wildcats bench begged for a review, were granted one, and Goldin was assessed a technical foul. Postgame, U-M’s big just shook his head and explained how this has long been a problem by being 5 to 10 inches taller than most opposing players.

“When they made the call I assumed Vlad did something more malicious than he did,” May said. “He’s a tough guy and when he gets whacked a couple times, he wants his space back. So, it didn’t go in our favor and made the game a lot more…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-basketball-coach-dusty-may-180058604.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2025-01-20 18:00:00

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