VSIAP: Nick Ward Says He Didn't Trip Wagner On Purpose
I don't recall anything posted on this (sorry if wrong), but Ward claims he didn't trip Wagner intentionally. His exact quote sort of disclaiming responsibility:
"I really don't think I did it on purpose."
When piled on top of Izzo's classy and gracious comment on the matter - "Wagner can be a pain in the butt, too, so let's not kid each other about what goes on here" - this is just pure gold... <3 U Sparty...
February 9th, 2017 at 12:10 PM ^
"Tripping is just a foul. Stop the persecution!"
/dukefan
February 9th, 2017 at 12:10 PM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 12:33 PM ^
(just thought I'd add that).
February 9th, 2017 at 12:15 PM ^
I give him the benefit of the doubt. It wasn't a malicious play, certainly not one that you can clearly determine intent, unlike any of Grayson Allen's trips. Ward was walking, Wagner cut in front of him, Ward kept going. If this play happened with the roles reversed, we'd all be proclaiming Wagner's innocence.
February 9th, 2017 at 12:20 PM ^
I wouldn't be proclaiming his (Wagner's) innocence. The correct call of a technical foul was made. He clearly could have stopped or tried to grab onto him if he was concerned about him falling. Hockey players do it all the time. He was walking and thus at a much slower speed. Not buying it.
February 9th, 2017 at 12:19 PM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 3:23 PM ^
4-star. Just saying.
February 9th, 2017 at 12:23 PM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 12:46 PM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 12:24 PM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 12:32 PM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 12:26 PM ^
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cW1XG--YBLE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
February 9th, 2017 at 12:31 PM ^
It didnt look like it was on purpose to me either.
February 9th, 2017 at 12:31 PM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 12:34 PM ^
I mean, if you watched the game and Sparty's collective inability to rotate onto open shooters Tuesday night, you could believe that Ward's footwork maybe was just that bad.
February 9th, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^
Not a big deal.
February 9th, 2017 at 1:05 PM ^
How does that prove there's no way it was an accident?
February 9th, 2017 at 1:27 PM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 12:43 PM ^
Lucky there is video:
When someone walks or runs naturally, the toe stays planted or you push off the toe, and the heel lifts up/rises higher than the toe.
In the video reply, you can clearly see that Nick lifts up the front of his foot higher than the heel at the moment that he crosses Wagner's stride. That folks is not natural, so anyone says its accidental, how could it be if one one time while he is walking does his toe side become higher than the heel side. It was definately a trip.
Maybe it was an attempt to anger Wagner into a reaction that would have gotten him Wagner a technical foul, and it backfired. This is of course just speculation and not a fact.
February 9th, 2017 at 12:49 PM ^
Nick Ward or your lying eyes? Obviously done on purpose. Thanks for posting.
February 9th, 2017 at 1:18 PM ^
"Fake News" - Nick Ward
February 9th, 2017 at 1:38 PM ^
Exactly. I don't see how it's not intentional. When someone's walking path intersects yours perpendicularly in front of you, unless you're blind you are aware of them and instinctually make adjustments to avoid a collision, either by swinging your path out (to the right in this case) to avoid them, or you shuffle your steps or shorten a stride to create a hestitation allowing them to pass. You don't extend your stride and allow your foot-fall to intersect theirs... unless your want to trip them or run into them (or you dont see them). If his head were turned completely away your could make the argument that he didnt see Wagner, but that's not the case here. He slightly lengthens his right stride and, as your pointed out, lifted up his toe to maximize the chance of a trip. GUILTY.
Whatever, it's a rivalry and honestly Wagner is kind of an animal both in his style of play and his attitude on the court. He actively tries to get under peoples skin. Love the kid but he's one of those guys that if he were on another team, you'd hate him. (i.e. Stauskas, Aaron Craft, Grayson Allen, UVA SG Kyle Guy, Joakin Noah, Tyler Hansborough, any tatted up white dude on Syracuse of the last 10 years, etc.)
February 9th, 2017 at 2:37 PM ^
You can see the extension, albeit slight, of his step with his right foot. It's about to come down and does this odd little pause to hang there. It's just not natural unless you're trying to step over something or intentionally step further.
If it truly is an accident, I'd also think his reaction would be different rather than basically walking to the bench.
Man up Nick Ward.
February 10th, 2017 at 7:02 AM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 1:40 PM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 5:18 PM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 12:47 PM ^
Grayson...
February 9th, 2017 at 12:48 PM ^
"I really don't think I did it on purpose."
Such a sparty thing to say. The game is over. Man up and admit you did it and move on. Or at least keep your mouth shut.
February 9th, 2017 at 12:56 PM ^
"I really don't think I had any beers tonight, officer."
Yep, that would totally fly.
February 9th, 2017 at 5:45 PM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 12:54 PM ^
"No, seriously! That's just how I walk!!!"
February 9th, 2017 at 12:58 PM ^
LOL - nice one
February 9th, 2017 at 12:58 PM ^
Thats just how we ball out.
February 9th, 2017 at 1:01 PM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 2:21 PM ^
Perfect video reenactment
February 9th, 2017 at 1:13 PM ^
trips over his extended nose.
February 9th, 2017 at 1:17 PM ^
It's pretty obvious Ward hates Wagner so that's the reason people think it's intentional. I don't really know/care.
Also I love seeing RCMB poster justify Ward by saying "we'll see who's the better player in the NBA." Just LOL a 6'10/11 C/PF with a ton of upside. Or a 6'8 C with limited mobility. Adrien Payne 2.0.
Also Mo Wagner is LESS than 5 months older than Ward. It's like RCMB thinks Wagner is 24...
February 9th, 2017 at 1:25 PM ^
is a lie
February 9th, 2017 at 1:41 PM ^
You can see intent AFTER the incident.
February 9th, 2017 at 1:56 PM ^
I'm going to give it about a 57 - 86% chance of the trip being intentional.
February 9th, 2017 at 3:12 PM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 3:51 PM ^
a 3-9% chance.
February 9th, 2017 at 2:10 PM ^
"Pride comes before the 3-9 season, or trying to convince the selection committee that Middle Tennessee was just a fluke, and pay no attention to the squeakers against FGCU or Oral Roberts, nor getting run out of Ann Arbor because counting backward from 30 is so damn hard."
-Mork D'Giornio, Head Volleyball Coach
February 9th, 2017 at 2:31 PM ^
If he meant to trip him then grizzly adams had a beard.
February 9th, 2017 at 4:04 PM ^
February 9th, 2017 at 5:05 PM ^
It could have been worse he could have kicked him in the junk Like Draymond Green likes to do or the five finger nut punch.
February 9th, 2017 at 10:19 PM ^
Walking with the intent to trip, but accidentally so, and with dignity.