A Walk in the Court: Defining Travelling

During the last two Kentucky games, two travelling calls baffled me. Yes travelling, a basic and frequently whistled violation that I thought I knew the meaning of - but after watching Brandon Knight and then DeAndre Liggins called for it, I'm not so sure.

Before we delve into the issue, let me start by saying that me being confused by a call is nothing new. I am often caught by a bizarre rule on some incident that only occurs as often as Boogiewoogie shaves his back hair. But this was travelling. This is the second thing any kid learns about playing basketball, just behind the fact that they get a free coke after their little league game - and that they can blend every type of soda together.

This bizarreness wasn't the case though this week though and in fact I wasn't the only person confused. In fact, Kentucky's own John Calipari was confused by the exact same calls and had a little jig to show for it.


Travelling is something as basic to basketball as dribbling, but the definition is as complex as that relationship with your hot-mother-in law. Here's the exact rule:

NCAA Rule 4, Section 50. 
Travel:
 
Art. 3. A player who catches the ball while moving or dribbling may stop
and establish a pivot foot as follows:
      a. When both feet are off the playing court and the player lands:
         1. Simultaneously on both feet, either may be the pivot foot;
         2. On one foot followed by the other, the first foot to touch shathe pivot foot;
         3. On one foot, the player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land on both; neither foot can be the pivot foot.
      b. When one foot is on the playing court:
         1. That foot shall be the pivot foot when the other foot touches in a step;
         2. The player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land on both; neither foot can then be the pivot foot.
Art. 4. After coming to a stop and establishing the pivot foot:
      a. The pivot foot may be lifted, but not returned to the playing court, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal;
      b. The pivot foot shall not be lifted before the ball is released to start dribble.
Art. 5. After coming to a stop when neither foot can be the pivot foot:
      a. One or both feet may be lifted, but may not be returned to the playing court, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal;
      b. Neither foot shall be lifted, before the ball is released, to start a dribble.
Art. 6. It is traveling when a player falls to the playing court while holding the ball without maintaining a pivot foot

NBA: Rule 10, Section XIII—Traveling

b. A player who receives the ball while he is progressing or upon completion of a dribble, may take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball.
NBA examples

So kids, if you figure the NCAA rule out let me know. But I don't see anything that says the following is allowed but the prior instance isn't...except this was John Wall.