ACC admits botched call in Duke, Maryland game
By Joe Nardone
Feb 15, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils fans chant at the end of their game against the Maryland Terrapins as Duke wins 69-67 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
The Maryland Terrapins probably like honest people. Find a five dollar bill on the sidewalk, find the owner and give it to them instead of keeping it? I can only assume they are totally in favor of such things. What they probably don’t care for, though, is honesty that doesn’t really matter.
The ACC has released a statement regarding Sunday’s game between Maryland and the Duke Blue Devils. A basketball game that was decided by two points and resulted in the Blue Devils winning, 56-54.
All of that is important, but not the focal point of the ACC having to admit to some wrong. You see, with just under 17 minutes to go in the game there was a little miscommunication between the referees and the people in charge of the possession arrow. Apparently the folks who take care of pressing a button and altering whose turn it would be to get possession of the next jump ball, couldn’t muster up the strength it takes to use a finger (any finger, mind you) to change the possession arrow.
The league states that the matter was handled internally, whatever the means. They also say the outcome of the game stands and that Maryland will have to deal with it. Okay, they didn’t say that last part, but it does fit.
With the incident happening so early in the second-half, though, the arrow might have given Duke an extra possession, but probably didn’t alter the game that dramatically. Still, it makes the conspiracy theorist in all of us wonder just how far Dick Vitale will go to make sure Duke wins basketball games.