John Calipari Pulled a Switch-a-roo to Get a Better Shooter at the Foul Line, and the Refs Missed It [Video]

John Calipari is crafty.

Russ Smith of Louisville fouled Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel in the lane late in the first half Saturday. The ref points at Smith, and the box score has a foul charged to Smith. Noel, a 52 percent foul shooter, steps to the line. Then, at the :23 mark, you see Noel look to the bench, and No. 22 on Kentucky, Alex Poythress, does the same. Then, Noel heads to the Kentucky bench to get a word with Calipari.

Poythress slyly replaces him at the foul line.

The refs completely miss it, as does everyone on Louisville. Poythress made one of two free throws.

Louisville staved off a furious Kentucky rally, winning, 80-77. The Wildcats could have used better free throw shooting – 11-of-23 (47 percent) isn’t going to cut it. Would Calipari be as brazen to try something like this in an NCAA tournament game? [video via Mark Ennis]

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8 Responses to “John Calipari Pulled a Switch-a-roo to Get a Better Shooter at the Foul Line, and the Refs Missed It [Video]”

starkweather Says:
December 30th, 2012 at 12:19 PM

Now that I know this I sort of wish Kentucky had won by one point

tall "order restored" guy Says:
December 30th, 2012 at 12:54 PM

that’s not crafty, that’s complete and outright cheating. And it was clearly rehearsed.

Wally's World Says:
December 30th, 2012 at 1:29 PM

that’s not crafty, that’s complete and outright cheating. And it was clearly rehearsed.

All. Of. This.

There’s multiple reasons that no other coach in the country wants anything to do with that cheating bastard. Classless. And typical.

RexKramerDangerSeeker Says:
December 30th, 2012 at 1:35 PM

I’d be more impressed if Calipari slid Wiltjer to the line.

scripty Says:
December 30th, 2012 at 1:49 PM

There’s multiple reasons that no other coach in the country wants anything to do with that cheating bastard. Classless. And typical.

Good heads-up basketball right here. THis is completely on Louisville and the refs.

Patrick Patterson-Kidd-Gilchrist Says:
December 30th, 2012 at 1:50 PM

I’d be more impressed if Calipari slid Wiltjer to the line.

For every free throw attempt the rest of the season. My god, that was abysmal. For comparison’s sake, Travis Ford did something like this when Pitino was coaching UK. I don’t remember the players involved besides Ford, but Rick suspended everyone who contributed.

stevewm Says:
December 30th, 2012 at 2:26 PM

There was no cheating went on here, Noel did not get fouled, Poythress was fouled as he passed the ball to Noel!

pitinos15secondride Says:
December 30th, 2012 at 3:38 PM

The folks at UK have explained what happened on the free throw dance in the first half versus Louisville. The foul was called on Russ Smith of Louisville, but the UK bench assumed the referee called the foul on the Poythress drive. They said Alex should be the shooter, assuming the foul had been called on Montrezl Harrell, not Russ Smith. The official came over to the official scorer, called the foul on Smith and said that #22 (Poythress) was the shooter. Of course, that would be impossible if the foul was actually on Smith. Since the referee did seem to blow the whistle and call the foul on Smith, it looks like it is a case of the referee himself getting confused as to who got fouled and the referee incorrectly assigning Poythress the shots instead of Noel.
What a shock, referees screwed up. It wasn’t the only time during yesterday’s game.
Shut up Cal haters it happens
Surprise it also happened under Pitino @ UK back in the early 90s