Mr. Referee, May I Have A Quick Word With You?

Dashiell Bennett|published: Sun 18th January, 13:30 2009

The gentleman striding on to the floor here is not an official member of the Providence athletic department, but why should that stop him from discussing a non-call with the referees mid-game?

He's actually Jonathan Xavier, the brother of Friar guard Jeff Xavier and all he wants to know is why there was not a foul called on Marquette after his whole family (symbolically) got poked in the eye driving to the hoop. Yes, the game was still in progress, but doesn't he deserve an answer? Don't we all?! [Rush The Court]

Mr. Xavier was escorted from the building (to jail), and Marquette won, but that was just one of the wacky things to happen in an overflowing day of top college basketball. Observe:

Louisville 69, Pittsburgh 63: The Panthers brief reign at No. 1 is over after Louisville takes them down at home. That means your new No. 1 is ...

Wake Forest 78, Clemson 68: ... Wake, which shut down Clemson (at Clemson) and is now the only remaining unbeaten. That did not sit well this Clemson fan who took it upon himself to suplex Deacon Chas McFarland into the bleachers. Hey, you goes into the seats, you takes your chances, I say. [Charlottle Observer]

Duke 76, Georgetown 67: After cutting a 15-point lead down to five, the Hoyas Greg Monroe was given a technical (his fourth foul) for yelling at refs from the bench. Reports indicate that it was actually a Georgetown fan—wearing a Steeler hat, natch—behind the bench who yelled the offending remark, but the game was at Cameron, so what are you going to do? That's right ... nothing! [ DC Sports Blog]

Syracuse 93, Notre Dame 74: We may never know who the best team in the Big East is. They have eight-ranked teams right now, one of them is in 11th place, and it seems unlikely that the eventual "champion" will have fewer than three losses. I mean did we really learn anything about the Orange or the Irish from this outcome? Besides Luke Harangody's belt size?

Michigan State 63, Illinois 57: Trailing by seven at the half, the Spartans rallied to beat Illinois by six, prompting a congratulatory email from another editor of this site. What a sportsman! [ AP]

Arizona St. 61, UCLA 58:: The No. 9 Bruins lose to Arizona St. in overtime. Sun Devil James Harden shot 9 free throws, the entire Bruins team had eight. "He's a crafty player," UCLA forward Josh Shipp said. Crafty, indeed. [ LA Times]

USC 65, Arizona 64: For the second time this season, Arizona's Jamelle Horne commits a ridiculously unnecessary foul (and another players gets called for a questionable intentional foul) that costs his team a game. With the game tied and 1.3 seconds left, Horne bumped USC's Daniel Hackett as he furiously dribbled for a last-second shot. Instead he got free throws and the Wildcats fall to 2-4 in the Pac-10. [ OC Register]