Near the conclusion of the UNC-Valpo game Saturday, the Crusaders De’Andre Haskins did this to Tyler Hansbrough.
It was rightly whistled an intentional foul, the 2nd called on Valpo in the final minutes of the game. After the foul Hansbrough bounced up with that same look he had when Gerald Henderson popped him with his elbow two years ago. Cooler heads prevailed on the court but apparently Haskins had something to say about Hansbrough’s reaction after the game:
With 3:32 remaining in the game, Hansbrough went up for a dunk and was fouled by Haskins from behind, sending the 6-foot-9 senior hard to the floor.
Almost immediately, Hansbrough’s nostrils flared and popped up off the floor. Haskins saw for himself how intense the reigning National Player of the Year is, something he’s seen on TV so many times.
He thought it was actually kind of funny, and unnecessary.
“I think it’s disrespecting to the game of basketball to hop up and start fighting in the middle of the game,” Haskins said. “All he had to do was get up and shoot the free throws.
“I didn’t feel threatened by him.”
Haskins was called for an intentional foul on the play.
First of all, I think it is rather disprectful to the game for a player to come up behind and attempt to rake someone’s eyes out as they are going up for a dunk. Based on the photo there is no way he can say he is making a play on the ball.
Secondly, if I were Haskins I would consider the long history of Tyler Hansbrough on the court and understand why he reacted they way he did. Hansbrough is constantly fouled and despite the brigades of ABCers who will tell you he initiates the contact so that makes it okay, there are times when players hack the Poplar Bluff senior just for the heck of it. In fact Valpo and Evansville both acted like their primary intention was to foul first and ask questions later. Hansbrough’s reaction was intense but more than that, when you have had your nose broken by a flagrant foul I imagine you probably react a little more passionately to being smacked in the face by an opposing player, especially when you were not expecting it.
And Haskins can say he did not feel threatened but based on Woody Durham’s description during the radio broadcast Haskins did not approach Hansbrough until after the timeout. If it was no big deal why not go up right away and apologize? The other Valpo players apparently asked Hansbrough if he was okay but not Haskins until the TV timeout had passed. Based on this I would venture to say Haskins either lack the courage or the class to step up on the spot and make it right. I imagine it was probably an absence of both.
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Unfortunately I couldn’t watch the game, but did Hansbrough “start fighting” as Haskins put it? In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Tyler “start fighting” on the basketball court. So what the hell is he talking about? He should probably be glad Tyler didn’t “start fighting”, or he might be spending Christmas in the hospital.
I can guarantee you that if I was Hansbrough and I was fouled the way he is, I would be banned from college basketball because I’d be knocking out somebody’s teeth. He has the patience of Job. I guess that’s just another reason to admire the guy.
I did not see it but based on Woody’s description Hansbrough jumped up very quickly and had a look like he was going to go after him. What’s funny is Hansbrough had the same look when Tyler Zeller was fouled against UK. That is how he rolls.
I was watching the game… Tyler definitely popped up quickly and had the “Henderson-look” (sans blood) in his eyes… DG stepped in before he could even take one step towards Haskins.
I saw that. It was funny to me becuase the intervening players (Danny and Deon?) saw that look and said “Uh-oh I better get in there.” But seriously “I didn’t feel threatened by him.” I would. Oh and he thought it was funny? What? Why? Would you think it was funny is someone came up behind you and smacked you? Wouldn’t you go after him? That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.
Also, it’s easy for Haskins to talk tough now, as he knows he will never face Hansbrough again. Valpo isn’t making the tourney, and Haskins won’t sniff the NBA.
I watched the game, which was televised on ESPNU. The color man was Dickie Simpkins who played on the Bulls with MJ in the late 90s. He basically said the same thing as Haskins, i.e., that it was a good hard foul and that Haskins was correct in trying to “send a message.”
This is just a problem you run into in basketball. The question is whether it is appropriate to give hard fouls on lay-ups and if so, how hard? Tyler plays so hard and does such a great job outworking the other team, they may think it is the only way to “stop” him. Shaq has had this problem for years. Now, when he gets a hard foul, he flails his arms out to clobber the fouler in the face.
If they want to get serious about stopping hard fouls, they need to start ejecting people.
The point is this guy is a wimp and a jerk. Tyler can outplay him by 5 miles. He’s just jealous.
I was at the game; it was unclear from where I was sitting what had actually happened. We just saw Tyler miss a dunk and land on his tailbone, hard. I assumed he had been kind of undercut. But seeing the photo makes one understand his ire a bit better. Although I will say that pictures can be misleading; God knows I have hit some people in the head accidentally on the court.
I saw the game on TV as well. Tyler definitely looked like he was going to put Haskins’ head in the third row. I also saw the Evansville game, where it looked like they were just out to foul him without playing some serious defense.
Tyler know he’s a marked man, and I wouldn’t get mad at anyone (even a Duke player) that gets ready to put a dirty player like Haskins’ head in the third row after something like that. It would be one thing if Haskins went for the ball and fouled him, but as THF pointed out, Haskins was just after Tyler’s head. That warranted a beatdown, in my book. The final thing I’ll say about Haskins and Valpo is that why Coach Drew continued to let him play? I’m all about letting the guys play and having understanding that hard fouls are part of the game, but this is pure headhunting, in my book. Drew should have taken Haskins out for the rest of the game.
I can’t really compare the pickup basketball I play three nights a week to a divsion I college game, but I NEVER see this bush league crap out of anyone at the gym, even on accident.
I agree with everything said above. It needs to be emphasized that this was the second intentional foul called on Valpo during the game. I was at the game and it seemed like an instant reaction from the whole crowd that that was a dirty foul.
The situation of the game also needs to be taken into account regarding the issue of “hard foul” or “dirty play.” When you’re Valpo, down by 20, facing the unanimous #1 team, there’s no need to be committing hard, intentional fouls with minutes left to go. That’s the point when it becomes a dirty play.
It is funny to see these people after the game act “bad a..”. I would bet some of these cats would fear riding in the same bus with him, or finding themselves out of place when they visit Franklin St and see him walking down a dark alley on their way to the Rathskellar.