Coach criticizes ELITE 2 refereeing

Jean-Denys Choulet, a 68-year-old former basketball coach, has voiced frustration with the refereeing in the ELITE 2 division of French basketball. He argues that the current practices in the second division prevent him from implementing his philosophy of team play, offensive systems, and tactical rigor.

Choulet’s motivation and experience

Choulet stated that his presence in Rouen is driven by passion rather than financial gain. He has spent over thirty years in the Betclic ELITE, the top French division, and is considered one of the most experienced coaches in the national elite.

Controversial call in Vichy game

Choulet referenced a specific incident during a game against Vichy, where a controversial referee call affected the game's outcome. He claimed a potential game-winning play was nullified by a decision he believes violated the new rules given to referees before the match.

Critique of previous coach and division gap

The coach made a veiled critique of his predecessor, Sylvain Delorme, suggesting Delorme’s style of defense was more physical than his own approach to clean basketball. Choulet also criticized the significant gap between the Betclic ELITE and ELITE 2, calling it a "monumental" difference in play quality, systems, and refereeing.

Long-term advocacy for professional referees

Choulet has been advocating for professional referees in French basketball for fifteen years. He believes referees should be treated with the same professionalism as players and coaches and has noted the difficulty in securing referees for training sessions.

Stats don’t show clear disadvantage

Despite his concerns, statistics from the first four rounds of the season do not show a consistent disadvantage for Rouen. Opponents have averaged more fouls and free throw attempts per game than Rouen, but Choulet remains worried about how refereeing decisions impact his team’s ability to play his style of basketball.