Elijah Johnson regrets travel call

Anthony Davis (23) left, forces Elijah Johnson into a traveling foul late in the second-half of KU's 67-59 loss to Kentucky in the championship game Monday, April 2, 2012.

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Kansas v. Kentucky (National Championship)

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Pre-game outside the Superdome

KU and Kentucky fans gather at the Superdome and take shelter in the underground parking during a storm before the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game, Monday, April 2, 2012.

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Highs and lows: Jayhawk fans watch the game in Lawrence

Elijah Johnson and Tyshawn Taylor post-game interviews

Elijah Johnson and Tyshawn Taylor talk about KU's loss to Kentucky and the KU team they love.

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Press Conferences & Post-Game Interviews

Kentucky coach John Calipari and players

Kentucky coach John Calipari and players Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Doron Lamb, Anthony Davis, Terrence Jones and Darius Miller talk to reporters following the Wildcats' 67-59 victory over Kansas on April 2, 2012, in the national championship game in New Orleans.

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Press Conferences & Post-Game Interviews

Bill Self, Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson

Kansas coach Bill Self, guard Tyshawn Taylor and forward Thomas Robinson talk to reporters following the Jayhawks' 67-59 loss to Kentucky on April 2, 2012, in the national championship game in New Orleans.

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KU vs. Kentucky

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New Orleans — Elijah Johnson’s biggest regret was the shot he made.

With a white towel draped around his shoulders and tears in his eyes, the Kansas University junior guard shook his head when describing the three-pointer he put up with KU down six and 23 seconds left.

The one that didn’t count after he was whistled for a travel.

“I actually made that shot, too,” Johnson said after KU’s 67-59 loss to Kentucky in the national title game. “That was big. That was going to be the big shot, man.”

Instead of cutting the lead to three, Johnson watched later as a pair of Doron Lamb free throws put the game away with 17 seconds left.

Johnson’s three was a play that he said he wouldn’t take back.

When he received the pass, he started to go up for a three-pointer, only to see Kentucky’s 6-foot-10 Anthony Davis rushing at him.

As Johnson started to leave the ground, he tried to put the ball down to dribble it.

After bouncing it, he stepped back and swished the three, only to be interrupted by a whistle.

“I personally think it hurts so bad when you think a call like that isn’t the right call, or something small like that ... I definitely think that the ref, he had to make a decision,” Johnson said. “If he believed that I traveled, then it’s his ballgame. But just to be in that situation, I felt like I reacted to it perfectly. And to come up short, that just hurts.”

Johnson was asked about the play again later by another reporter.

“I want to see that play so bad, but the referee did a good job,” Johnson said. “No disrespect to the referee. He had to make a call, and he made the one he thought was best. I just didn’t feel like it was a travel.

“But I don’t know. I was a part of the play. I didn’t get to watch it like you all did.”

When time ran out on KU, Johnson became emotional on the court.

“I felt like somebody stomped me in my chest,” Johnson said between sniffles. “I couldn’t breathe. It killed me, man. It killed me.”

Still, Johnson said he was proud of his teammates for battling back. KU trailed by 15 with just 5:44 to go before closing within five with 1:37 left.

“At the end of the game, I looked at Cal (Kentucky coach John Calipari), and he was sitting on the sideline, and he looked nice and comfortable,” Johnson said. “And I kind of smiled at him. And he smiled back at me, because I knew that was our time to make him as uncomfortable as he had been the whole game.”

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phogphan2000 1 year, 1 month ago

EJ you grew so much this year, I hope you don't feel down for too long. Get in the gym, get in the weight room, take what you've learned this year and become a better player and a better man from the experience. So excited to have a guy like you at Kansas.

TheSychophant 1 year, 1 month ago

EJ, just remember that without your heroics in the four games leading up to the NC, we would have all watched the game as spectators. At the start of the season, Kentucky was the favorite to win the National Championship. The did as expected.

On the other hand, at the start of the season, we were not expected to make it past the first week of the tourney. We came close to winning it all. Better than expected. Much better than expected. Amazingly better than expected.

You guys won. Hold your head high. For many of us, you are our favorite KU team of all time. And such accolades should not be taken lightly.

TheSychophant 1 year, 1 month ago

You guys won. Hold your head high. For many of us, you are our favorite KU team of all time. And such accolades should not be taken lightly.

jhawk7782 1 year, 1 month ago

Nicely stated. EJ is now the leader of this team. He will set the tone for next years team. I think he is a worthy successor.

LSHawk 1 year, 1 month ago

This team had a great season. Although we didnt like the ending, the future does look bright. With Jeff, EJ and Travis all coming back and all the new guys we can be right back in this same game next year.

jhawk7782 1 year, 1 month ago

EJ and Travis..not a bad nucleus to build a talented incoming class around. I think we will sign Tony Parker even though Manning (the one I care about) is leaving to Tulsa. Next year will have a lot of raw talent that will be fighting for playing time and position. Be ready to see Ben emerge as a consistent shooter..maybe the one thing that held us back this year.

Hard day but the future is bright..2014 we will be back to the Final4.

cklarock 1 year, 1 month ago

What a fantastic year for EJ. He's really impressed with his maturity and depth of thought this tournament. We are in good hands next season. It's another great day to be a Jayhawk.

RCJHKU

steveyea 1 year, 1 month ago

You are champions, Elijah, Tyshawn, T-Tob, Travis, Jeff, and the rest. The comeback was on, but Kidd-Gilchrest made an unbelievable block on Ty's layup, and Davis an unbelievable charge on Elijah's 3; otherwise we had them, just like all the others. We are so proud of you, you are one of the best Jayhawks teams ever. And Coach Self and staff, what a great coaching job this year. Go out and make us proud, Danny and Barry, and the rest of us, let's reload and come back with that new trademark toughness as Jayhawks from now on. Go Jayhawks!

clevelandjayhawker 1 year, 1 month ago

Was that a legal move? seemed like he dribbled when i watch the replay. can you take off on both feet and drible?

JayHok 1 year, 1 month ago

It's legal although it looks funny. You can leap and pass as long as you do it before touching the ground. You can leap and shoot. You can also leap and dribble.

Bad call.

jpstrayer 1 year, 1 month ago

I've been wondering about that play...it sure seemed to me he started dribbling before his feet touched the groud...or at least he appeared to drop the ball, then established the dribble once he landed. Regardless, he didnt' seem to have the ball in his hand when he landed on the floor. I see no difference in that play and going for a lose ball, yet it was called a travel.

ancient_hawk 1 year, 1 month ago

No it wasn't legal. That's why they called traveling.

BY RULE........if your pivot foot leaves the ground and the ball is in your hands, you must give up possession before your pivot foot re-contacts the ground. period.

You can shoot, you can pass, you can let go of the ball and drop it. But you can't be the first person to touch the ball after you do. It's like passing to yourself.

By the same token, you can throw the ball in the air and catch it, but if your pivot foot moves while the ball is in the air, it's traveling.

The only exception is if the ball doesn't leave your hands because an opponent got a hand on it. Then it is a held ball, and the possession arrow decides who gets it.

jhawk7782 1 year, 1 month ago

The ref had the call right: The pivot foot may be lifted, but not returned to the playing court, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal;64 Rule 4

It was obvious..if it was a bad call, then why didn't ANYONE mention it. EJ knew it, HCBS knew it and so did the referee.

KUMatt2001 1 year, 1 month ago

In the air, he essentially takes one dribble, then lands and shuffles both feet back. Not sure if it was by-the-book legal, but nothing worse that what players do all the time with no whistle. That would have cut it to 3, and after that, who knows...

daverinoku 1 year, 1 month ago

good question. I think a player WOULD be allowed to dribble, even while jumping up and down -- making that the perfect reaction, as EJ said.

If he shuffled his feet after coming down, that may have been the issue.

Or even if it were technically legal, no ref has the guts for a no-call there, if it "looks" unorthodox.

KUMatt2001 1 year, 1 month ago

I just watched it again and actually DO NOT think it was a travel! I think you hit the nail on the head, it looked unorthodox, so the ref blew the whistle.

He lets go of the ball before his feet come back down, steps back with the left, then right, then grabs the ball. Essentially one dribble, and no moving of the feet with ball in his hands.

ancient_hawk 1 year, 1 month ago

BY RULE........if your pivot foot leaves the ground and the ball is in your hands, you must give up possession before your pivot foot re-contacts the ground. period.

You can shoot, you can pass, you can let go of the ball and drop it. But you can't be the first person to touch the ball after you do. It's like passing to yourself.

By the same token, you can throw the ball in the air and catch it, but if your pivot foot moves while the ball is in the air, it's traveling.

The only exception is if the ball doesn't leave your hands because an opponent got a hand on it. Then it is a held ball, and the possession arrow decides who gets it.

ancient_hawk 1 year, 1 month ago

You can hop like a bunny all day long WHILE dribbling. But you must START your dribble before your "pivot foot" leaves the ground. If your pivot foot leaves the ground first...well look just below for the rule on that.

jhawk7782 1 year, 1 month ago

Thank You!

1975jayhawk 1 year, 1 month ago

yes, it was legal. He put the ball down before he came back down. Bad call

HawkKlaw 1 year, 1 month ago

Turn this negative into a positive next season, EJ! You've just been promoted to general.

FreddyinLA 1 year, 1 month ago

The ref blew the call. The ball had left his hands before his feet hit the ground. Should have been a 1-possession game with UK on the ropes.

WilburNether 1 year, 1 month ago

Wrong. Read the rule book.

dhinkansas 1 year, 1 month ago

I don't understand why players are allowed to run 15 feet to the basket to dunk it, yet it's not a travel call.

jhawk7782 1 year, 1 month ago

dhinkansas...you make a good point. Although the same rule applies, it isn't consistently called. In the NBA, they should change the rule as it is never applied.

Palming is another rule that could be called but is so completely ignored...its almost unfair to call it, particularly when the game is on the line.

buck2133 1 year, 1 month ago

Unfortunately, the ref got it correct...NCAA Rule 4, Art. 4b...states: b. The pivot foot shall not be lifted before the ball is released to start a dribble.

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mwc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/1113-bkb-ncaa-rulebook.pdf

it was all too familiar a scene...Lee v. Warrick...

buck2133 1 year, 1 month ago

also Rule 4, Art. 5a and 5b clarify further:

Art. 5. After coming to a stop when neither foot can be the pivot foot: a. One or both feet may be lifted, but may not be returned to the playing court, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal; b. Neither foot shall be lifted, before the ball is released, to start a dribble.

KUMatt2001 1 year, 1 month ago

Oh. So, by the book it was a travel.

jpstrayer 1 year, 1 month ago

Not if he started the dribble by dropping the ball before landing.

jpstrayer 1 year, 1 month ago

nevermind...I can't read :(

jhawk7782 1 year, 1 month ago

KUMatt2001 What if the role was reversed and the Kentucky player wasn't called and the shot counted?

'Oh. So, by the book it was a travel.'

What does that even mean? Sarcasm or stupidity?

daverinoku 1 year, 1 month ago

this says: "After coming to a stop", which implies the player dribbled, then jumped to shoot (or pass).

didn't EJ catch the ball and immediately go up for the shot?

If the rule cited above is in play... NCAA Rule 4, Art. 4b...states: b. The pivot foot shall not be lifted before the ball is released to start a dribble. ... that may be the illegal move.

However I think players catch a pass, then start to move and probably pick up their pivot foot before their first dribble hits the floor all the time.

JayHok 1 year, 1 month ago

Will the NCAA officiating crew please make a statement on this call?

jhawk7782 1 year, 1 month ago

WHY?? It was obvious. Didn't EJ's reaction clue you in just a little bit. There were plenty of questionable calls last night..but this wasn't one of them.

PikesPeakSmitty 1 year, 1 month ago

I thought it was a pretty obvious Double Dribble.

This picture is the perfect reason why he couldn't release the shot on the first jump. Anthony Davis is sky high and his hands were likely 15 feet in the air!

jhok99 1 year, 1 month ago

I don't like the travel call but I THINK it was the correct call. I play w/ a guy that refs high school ball and we were talking about this a few weeks ago. (Not saying he's absolutely correct and if college is the same.) Here's what I found in the National Federation of High Schools. Again, high school, not college. 4.44.3 SITUATION B: A1 receives the ball with both feet off the floor and he/she lands simultaneously on both feet without establishing a pivot foot. A1 then jumps off both feet in an attempt to try for goal, but realizing the shot may be blocked, A1 drops the ball to the floor and dribbles. RULING: A1 has traveled as one foot must be considered to be the pivot and must be on the floor when the ball is released to start a dribble. The fact that no pivot foot had been established does not alter this ruling. Page 37 2009-10 NFHS Basketball Case Rule 5.

sallyp 1 year, 1 month ago

EJ don't beat yourself up, you helped bring us back and for that a big THANK YOU. We are so thankful you'll be here next year, we're really looking forward to next season with you, jeff, trailor, and Maclamore, and Perry Ellis. Have a wonderful summer with Hudy

jhawkrulz 1 year, 1 month ago

I just think we should go to the Rules that KU has in its house...the ones that Naismith wrote and check what is says about "travels". I'm sure Dr. Naismith believes that KU should have come out on top.

Awesome year, awesome tournament, every game was a nail biter. And you all made us believe and hope that there was one more comeback in store. A couple of 3s by Lamb really dampened the comeback. A couple of missed dunks and the easy dunk by UK over the turnover was the difference. This game just was out of reach.

I don't think there is a Jayhawk out there that isn't happy with the way the team played throughout the season.

vd 1 year, 1 month ago

Fundamentals: As Bobby would say, a shot fake and EJ is shooting 3 free throws with the clock stopped. If TRob puts the ball above his head with both hands on the ball and pivots, he doesn't get the ball picked after his rebound. Cole used to do that every rebound he pulled down. Of course if Cole was playing this year, he would have fouled out after 5 D rebounds, if the the opposing team would stick their face in his elbows when he turned with the ball. They have to change that flagrant foul rule, cause it's a bunch of crap.

supersonicf111 1 year, 1 month ago

No biggie EJ, your contribution to our team during the tournament was phenomenal! You strapped the team on your back during those last few wins and carried us through to the title game. You’re the man!

plasticJHawk 1 year, 1 month ago

When he sees the tape he will know that he did in fact travel.

The ref made the right call, but he shouldn't let this moment cloud his memory. He was terrific in the NCAA tournament and in the title game. Next time he will recognize the situation and know to offer a quick shot fake, take a one step dribble out of the defensive players trajectory and bury the shot.

I didn't see the travel watching the game live, but on the replay it was clear that he left his feet before A. Davis appeared in the airways.

EJ is going to be terrific as the lead dog next year. He's not a player I would have predicted would be at KU all four years, but he'll be in the NBA in 2013.

bjejayhawk69 1 year, 1 month ago

Can't stand listening to Bob Knight but I kept thinking shot fake and take the foul or 1 dribble to his left and wide open 3. Easy to say - hard to do when an albatross is coming at you.

EJ played great all tournament - can't fault him at all

jhawk7782 1 year, 1 month ago

I wondered if EJ could have jumped into Davis but after watching again..he would have needed to jump six feet to his right to get body contact and no ref would go for that. He should of pump faked but in the moment...it was simply a good play by Davis.

jgkojak 1 year, 1 month ago

Bad call. It was a questionable travel/double dribble and there were easily 2 - 3 equally questionable KY moves down the stretch- you can call that in the first half, but w/the game on the line, the refs should not influence the game like that - especially in a let 'em play kind of game where they were loosey goosey all night.

I still think we don't have enough juice to come all the way back, but it would have been fun.

ancient_hawk 1 year, 1 month ago

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!! People need to learn the rules it they are going to comment on the refs.

BY RULE........if your pivot foot leaves the ground and the ball is in your hands, you must give up possession before your pivot foot re-contacts the ground. PERIOD.

You can shoot, you can pass, you can let go of the ball and drop it. But you can't be the first person to touch the ball after you do. It's like passing to yourself.

By the same token, you can throw the ball in the air and catch it, but if your pivot foot moves while the ball is in the air, it's traveling.

The only exception is if the ball doesn't leave your hands because an opponent got a hand on it. Then it is a held ball, and the possession arrow decides who gets it.

ancient_hawk 1 year, 1 month ago

Sorry jgkojak. It's just that you were the 500th person I've heard get that wrong today. I shouldn't have taken it out on you.

marchphog88 1 year, 1 month ago

Except, of course, in the case of the absurd "jump stop" that they've been allowing more and more often in college basketball.

Thanks for the rule clarification--I really appreciate it. And it's clear in hindsight that the call was correct.

Still, it's rather frustrating to see the rules written in an inconsistent manner.

truehawk93 1 year, 1 month ago

EJ should've protected the ball and jumped right into the flying Davis. They tried to avoid Davis too much. You go right into a shot blocker 99.9% of the time they foul because they are out of control. EJ would've gotten 3 shots at the line.

Ryan_32 1 year, 1 month ago

So how did you come up with this clairvoyant superpower to see exactly what would have happened had someone done something differently?

Seriously people... Hindsight is 20/20, and even then you are making some considerable assumptions.

EJ played his ass off this season and really came into his own. I cannot wait to see him take this team into next season and really cut the leash.

st20602 1 year, 1 month ago

In a moment like that, the most understandable logic in Anthony Davis' head is that Elijah is going to shoot the 3 as quickly as he can. Therefore, A. Davis wouldn't hesitate to jump in an attempt to block the shot, if EJ were to shoot it. A pump fake would enable A. Davis to jump, which then could lead EJ to jump into him to get 3 shots at the line.

BCRavenJHawkfan 1 year, 1 month ago

For what it's worth Tyshawn was drawing contact all night and no calls. I give our guys credit for NOT complaining.

ctsixer 1 year, 1 month ago

The refs may not have called that either. Tyshawn did that same move perfectly earlier in the game, should have been a call on Teague, I think. No call. These refs were not any good. However, they got the call on EJ right.

jhawk7782 1 year, 1 month ago

Davis's body wasn't even close...his right hand was extended directly in EJ's vision.

The kid has a 7-foot-4 wingspan...how was EJ supposed to jump into Davis?

The ONLY thing he could have done was a pump fake but w/the speed Davis has, I doubt EJ even thought Davis could cover so much ground so fast.

The 'ifs and buts' are borderline ridiculous. Maybe Davis was POY for a reason.

plasticJHawk 1 year, 1 month ago

Elijah Johnson is the man, and I am excited about this being his team next year.

No excuses for EJ. Get your shoes on and get back in the gym.

OakvilleJHawk 1 year, 1 month ago

WOW!! We have a lot of refs posting today :}

But I agree that it was an obvious travel. What Elijah should have done was throw the ball off Davis out of bounds as he passed by before he landed and retained possession.

Tough play, however.

I just wish we had those two dunks back and then seen what would have happened. Hawks work the ball to Tyshawn at the head of the key, let's fly a three pointer from the exact spot Mario did, the horn goes off, swish !!!!!!!

And Calipari anguishes in hellish torture!!

marchphog88 1 year, 1 month ago

I counted three different plays where a KU shooter pump-faked, got the Kentucky defender in the air, then put the shot up as the Kentucky defender landed on them.

No call. ANY of the times it happened.

With the way refs blow the whistle all the time on incidental body contact on a contested layup, it's baffling to me how you don't call a foul when a defender gets fooled, gives up position, then slams into an offensive player as they come back down.

That's a textbook shooting foul. They teach that sh*t in biddy-ball refereeing school. Yet the crew at the National Title game missed it at least three times.

So, I think EJ's best tact would have been:

1) pump-fake 2) side-step 3) shot

They weren't giving us credit for fooling their players into fouling us, so the only thing left to try is fool their players into giving us completely uncontested shots.

Alohahawk 1 year, 1 month ago

+1 Davis was always in the air, jumping towards the shooter when he went for the blocks. Unlike Withey, who rarely leaves his feet to block shots. Jumping towards players as they're shooting can be used against the blocker, if the shooter is quick enough to jump into the blocker's path. Unfortunately, shot fakes were rarely in the Jayhawk arsenal all year. And, as you indicated, the refs hadn't called Yuke U. on the few times KU did jump into the defender while shooting.

jhawk7782 1 year, 1 month ago

Except the path Davis was on wasn't toward EJ but to EJ's right. Withey's feet don't leave the ground for a different reason...he can't jump. Down in the paint, that works well on defense and limits fouls. Davis, who can jump, rarely jumps directly at the player but to his side. He knows how to use his 7-foot-4 wingspan.

'Unfortunately, shot fakes were rarely in the Jayhawk arsenal all year' No doubt and FTs continue to haunt us as well.

Anyways..sorry (sincerely) if I unintentionally took this difference of opinion too far. We all wish EJ made the shot. I wonder if Cal might have seen another great comeback and panacked just a little bit

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