Did anyone see the Syracuse game yesterday?  Our old "friend" John Cahill really came through once more with two simply awful calls. 

First, with like 45 seconds to go and the score tied, Syracuse's Rautins shuffled his feet and traveled, but there is no travel call, because, oh wait, Boeheim called a timeout somehow before the travel supposedly.

Then with 33 seconds to go, the score still tied, Syracuse's Scoop Jardine took a shot which was partly blocked and Uconn ended up with the ball, with the opportunity to take the final shot to win the game.

But, no, somehow Cahill granted a Boeheim timeout, after Uconn had possession because Boeheim asked for it before the Syracuse player had taken the shot. 

But thats completely not what the rules allow.  Rule 5, Section 10, Art. 4, page 93 states: “The game clock and shot clock, if running, shall be stopped when an official: grants a coach’s or player’s visual or oral request for a time out." (emphasis added)

Additionally, Rule 5, Section 12, Art. 1, page 95 adds: “No timeouts shall be granted: unless there is a player control by the requesting team." (emphasis added) Rule 5, Section 13, Art. 1, on page 96 also states “A timeout shall be granted and charged after a player or head coach makes a visual or oral request and when a player of that team is in control of the ball."

The key here, is that at the time of the timeout granting, the requesting team has to have the ball. This is simply a blatant, awful piece of officiating.

John Cahill may have once been a respected ref around the league, but he blew this one and his mistake cost Uconn the game.