LAWRENCE, Kansas — Even after the Kansas men’s basketball team had escaped with a one-point victory against UCLA last night, something just didn’t feel right. How could officials have put 0.7 seconds back on the clock after reviewing the same footage I’d seen on television?

The issue to me was not whether KU’s Mario Little was in fact fouled but whether the official had called the foul before time had expired in the second half. After the replay had aired several times, it was clear that the official hadn’t raised his arm until after time had run out.

At first glance, my personal feeling was that the decision should be based solely on when the foul was actually called. This interpretation is similar to how timeouts are treated. When a coach or player attempts to call a timeout, the clock only stops when it is granted by the official, not when the coach or player first asks for the timeout.

The converse opinion is that the official’s reaction time should not be the deciding factor, particularly at such a critical time in the game. As such, the time on the clock should be based solely on when the foul is deemed to have been committed.

So, did they make the right call? Or should the game have gone to overtime?

Fortunately, the NCAA has defined the proper protocol for this specific situation. It should first be noted that the on-court ruling of a foul cannot be overturned by video replay. Thus, even if you think it was a bad call, that was never going to be reversed.

Rule 2-13.3.c of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Rules and Interpretations specifically states that:

When there is a reading of zeros on the game clock and after making a call on the playing court, the officials shall use such available [video/replay] equipment in the following situations:

Determine whether a foul occurred before the reading of zeros on the game clock at the end of the first half, or at the end of the second half/extra period only when necessary to determine the outcome of a game. When it is determined that the foul occurred before the reading of zeros on the game clock, the official is permitted to put the exact time back on the game clock as to when the foul was committed.

I’m a big believer that proper use of video replay in sports is a good thing for everyone involved, even if you don’t get the call you wanted.

In this case, the officials got it right. And that’s a win for everyone.

Filed under: Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Technology