Leaving a pull-up jump shot three feet short somehow turned out to be a fortunate break for Texas guard Demarcus Holland on Saturday.
It enabled Holland to follow his own shot, pluck the ball out of the air and score an easy layup before any of Oklahoma State's flat-footed defenders had time to react.
Holland's unusual first-half basket had everyone from Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford, to Cowboys fans, to ESPN's broadcast crew calling for a traveling violation to be called, but referees probably were correct to allow the basket. In all levels of basketball besides the NBA, a player can be the first to touch his own air ball as long as referees rule it a legitimate shot attempt.
The National Federation of High Schools rulebook addresses such situations specifically, explaining that a player who recovers his own air ball isn't committing a violation because his control of the ball ended after he released his initial shot. Only if the referees had determined Holland's intent was to pass to himself should he have been called for traveling.
If it seems far-fetched that Holland could miss a short pull-up jumper so badly, consider how out of rhythm Texas' offense has been lately. The 10th-ranked Longhorns followed up a horrendous 70-49 home loss to Oklahoma on Monday night by shooting 34.4 percent at Oklahoma State in a 69-58 defeat.
Holland's 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting was a bright spot for Texas, but it was his air ball-turned-layup that will be discussed most.
Call it an embarrassing shot and a good hustle play. Call it a crafty alley-oop pass to himself. Regardless of what Holland was trying to do, it resulted in Saturday's most bizarre basket.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
It seems like Jeff Eisenberg had quite the tale to tell about Demarcus Holland's unconventional play on the basketball court. First off, I'd say that as someone deeply entrenched in the world of basketball, I can confidently say that these oddball scenarios are what make the game so fascinating.
Now, let's break down the key concepts from the article:
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Pull-up jump shot: This is a type of basketball shot where a player, usually on the move, comes to a quick stop and propels the ball into the basket with a jump.
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Air ball: When a player takes a shot, and the ball completely misses the basket and doesn't touch the rim or backboard.
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Follow-up play: Holland's ability to follow his own missed shot, grab the ball, and score a layup is a testament to quick thinking and adaptability on the court.
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Traveling violation: In basketball, traveling is an infraction that occurs when a player takes too many steps without dribbling. The article discusses the potential controversy around whether Holland should have been called for traveling in this situation.
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Referee decision: The referees, in this case, made a judgment call based on the rules of the game. In non-NBA levels, a player can legally touch their own air ball if it's ruled a legitimate shot attempt.
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National Federation of High Schools rulebook: The article references the rulebook, indicating that it specifically addresses situations where a player recovers their own air ball, clarifying that it's not a violation.
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Offensive struggles of Texas: The broader context of the article discusses the performance of the Texas Longhorns and highlights their recent offensive struggles, providing a backdrop to Holland's unusual play.
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Rankings: The article mentions that Texas is the 10th-ranked team, which adds significance to their recent struggles and the attention drawn to Holland's play.
In summary, this article is not just about a single basketball play but delves into the intricacies of the game, rules, and the context of a team's performance. It's a reminder that even in the midst of a tough game, there can be moments of unexpected brilliance or, in this case, a fortunate break.
