Ok rules experts, question: is slapping the backboard when a shot goes up (a layup) an automatic bucket or not?

Nope....only can be a technical foul if ruled by the official but never goaltending....

That doesn't sound right, but I'm too lazy to look up the rule tonight. Why would it be a technical and not goal tending?

I'm guessing here.... But if memory serves, I believe if someone hits the backboard during a layup, it's goal tending.

Again, I'm guessing at this point.

It must not be a rule because I've seen it a lot this year and it's never called

The backboard has nothing to do with goaltending. Goaltending is contacting the
ball on its downward flight, above the level of the rim, with a chance to go in. On
most layups, the ball is going up after it contacts the backboard. It is legal to pin
the ball against the backboard if it still on the way up and not in the imaginary
cylinder above the basket. Slapping the backboard is neither basket interference
nor is it goaltending and points cannot be awarded. A player who strikes a
backboard so forcefully that it cannot be ignored because it is an attempt to draw
attention to the player, or a means of venting frustration, may be assessed a
technical foul. When a player simply attempts to block a shot and accidentally
slaps the backboard it is neither a violation nor is it a technical foul.

Might not be. That would seem more logical than a technical.

These clones look serious tonight...I have yet to see more than one shot inside the 3pt line.

Learn something new everyday. Thanks.

When I was in high school, in KC, I used to go to a number of games both on the 'road' and at home and there were a couple times when our team was assessed a technical before the game, because the last 'run through' the team did before going back to the locker room before tip off, the guys would jump as high as they could and slap the glass backboard. In a few venues, this garnered a technical. I guess the above explains the rationale

Selden stopped a Kentucky fast break layup and slapped the backboard and their fans howled that's goaltending, which is what I thought. Apparently the refs are more knowledgable

KSU got called for this last year or the year before against Kentucky iirc

7mins to play and Rusty's boo clones are down 9...

BOO?

Is it catching McKay off guard, though?

I'll admit though, Niang is ****ing raping ****ing faces.