As a basketball official we were not scheduled to do the same team to many times in a season. The reason was you became familiar with the players and so when the player made a certain move you knew he travelled. I do believe that the players also got to know what officials would call and what they would not call.

For years the ACC (basketball) was known as a touch league. They called the hand checking very close. Conversely the Big Ten was a much more physical league. The ACC coached began to complain to the conference that this was hurting them at tournament time because other officials did not call it as close. I think cougarmanguy has put his finger on the issue.