When I read about a basketball game, often the first two statistics I look at are the number of fouls called on each team and the number of foul shots shot by each team. It is, to me, amazing that, regardless of the score, the home team usually commits less fouls and shoots more foul shots. There are, of course, a goodly number of exceptions.

 

I would like to see a breakdown of schools, say the 16th Region for instance, as to fouls called at home, fouls called on the road, foul shots at home, and foul shots on the road. Now, before you referee defenders get upset, let me hasten to state that I am not suggesting any kind of conspiracy. I just think such statistics would be both interesting and revealing.

It would take a week to figure out a game from the 13th, they call a ton of fouls!

When I read about a basketball game, often the first two statistics I look at are the number of fouls called on each team and the number of foul shots shot by each team. It is, to me, amazing that, regardless of the score, the home team usually commits less fouls and shoots more foul shots. There are, of course, a goodly number of exceptions.

 

I would like to see a breakdown of schools, say the 16th Region for instance, as to fouls called at home, fouls called on the road, foul shots at home, and foul shots on the road. Now, before you referee defenders get upset, let me hasten to state that I am not suggesting any kind of conspiracy. I just think such statistics would be both interesting and revealing.

 

When looking at stats like that the more relevant thing to keep in mind is the outcome of the game. Since (and I'm making a generalization here) teams win more often at home than on the road, and the team that is trailing usually has to foul at the end of games in order to extend the game, it would make sense that in the majority of games the home team would in fact have less fouls and take more foul shots.

This also depends on the who is playing. If you have one team that constantly attacks the basket and another that plays on the perimeter you would expect the team attacking the basket to shot a greater number of foul shots.

The last two posts present situations that play into the mix. However, they are merely a part of the picture and are not, by any means, always true.

A more accurate assessment may be to count the fouls BEFORE the losing team starts to foul to stop the clock.

I have saw the foul count at 6-1 . Someone in the crowd holler's "look at the foul count" refs then had a little palaver and immediately called four in a row on the teamj with one. they seem to always try to even it up. I think they should call it however they see it and if one team commits 30 more fouls then so be it.

Not to say it is conscious or intentional, but we all have seen what looks like "scoreboard officiating". Obviously the score will be displayed, but what advantage do you see in posting the team foul count on the scoreboard?

 

Many differences in offensive strategy, defense played, speed/quickness/athleticism between two teams can impact who may commit more fouls than the other. The game should be called as it is played, not in an attempt to balance the numbers on the scoreboard.