Here is what needs explaining, why was SH granted possession?
Excellent point and the crux of the biscuit du jour.
If LJ was not ruled out of bounds AND you don't rule an inadvertent whistle, then what is the possible justification for a Seton Hall possession? Now moved to a more advantageous throw in spot on the sideline no less. There is none. Big flaw in the BE explanatory release.
There are instances where referees just stop the action then restart play with a throw in to the team in possession near where the ball was. Most commonly for injury or equipment problems or malfunction. Less commonly for things not specifically covered in the rules such as small children running on the court, earthquakes, riots in the stands or your partner having a stroke.
Typically the ref. tells the table "My timeout" or "My time" then you proceed once the issue is corrected.
That's not what happened Saturday. The stoppage was clearly to look at replay review to correct a timing issue and that's what occurred. Procedure for this is clearly covered in the rules:
a) After the mistake, such a mistake shall be corrected:
1) During the first dead ball and before the ball is touched inbounds or out of bounds by a player other than a thrower-in.
This is why I'm adamant that the whistle was blown by mistake (not following the rule) and the official did not have a call to make. Inadvertent whistle was the way to go.
The clock issue became an issue because a player touched the ball, that was a SJU player. If the claim is possession was in question then shouldn’t it be decided by the arrow?
This part is a bit counter intuitive but SH still had team control even though LJ deflected the throw in to create a loose ball situation:
Art. 2. A team shall be in control when:
b) While a live ball is being passed between teammates
c) When a player of that team has disposal of the ball for a throw-in.
Art. 3. Team control shall continue until the ball is in flight during a try for goal, an opponent secures control OR THE BALL BECOMES DEAD.
You only go to the arrow if neither team has team control.
So is the “error in judgement” for the inadvertent whistle or for awarding SH possession of the ball?
There is a lot of blame to be passed around in many areas on many levels. The granddaddy of them all is the ref. not waiting till a dead ball to fix the timing issue. If not for this everything would have been fine. It's the stone that started the avalanche.
Either way we still should have won the game.
Darn straight. We wuz robbed.