ESPN & CBS Sports ask if the Officials Cost Gonzaga the National Championship

[Franisdaman]

I guess its not just us on this board who are critical of officiating.

Here is CBS Sports take: http://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...l-championship-and-lebron-james-cant-take-it/

As you will read,

Both UNC and Gonzaga played hard but not particularly well, and the officiating generated as much buzz as the buckets.

Monday night’s national championship game, a 71-65 win for the Tar Heels, finished with an average of more than one foul for every two possessions (44 fouls, 73 possessions) and only 46 field goals as both teams failed to crack 36 percent shooting for the game. Making matters worse, UNC and Gonzaga combined to miss 20 free throws in 52 attempts so even when the fouls started racking up it didn’t feel like anyone was benefiting.

Quick whistles after halftime put both teams in the bonus with 14 minutes left in the second half, with Gonzaga’s 7-foot freshman Zach Collins picking up his fourth foul with 15:53 left and 7-1 senior Przemek Karnowski getting his fourth with 8:02 left.

Collins’ fourth, an offensive foul, drew intense scrutiny for its quick whistle and the dramatic impact it played on the game. Collins played just 14 minutes, six minutes in the second half,

There is also the matter of the jump-ball call in the final minute. Meeks’ hand was out of bounds during the battle for possession. This was a monster call. The Heels were up one, 66-65 at this point, and not only did they score on the ensuing possession, but they went on to score the next six points while Gonzaga never scored again.

In total, the officiating became an unfortunate storyline that cannot be ignored in the discussion of this year’s title game. Even LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were weighing in with complaints about the tight whistles on Twitter.


Here is ESPN's take: www.espn.com/video/clip?id=19073352

 

[Franisdaman]

Another CBS Sports writer wrote this:


UNC won its sixth national title Monday night in what was a pretty sloppy game all around -- particularly for the officials , who were, well, not great. At best, you could say they were simply a little too whistle-happy, never allowing either team to get into any real rhythm (neither team shot better than 36 percent) thanks to a total of 44 fouls on just 73 possessions.

At worst, you could say they were downright awful.

To be clear, there were questionable calls that went against -- and benefited -- both teams all night. But perhaps the most costly call came with less than a minute to play and UNC leading 66-65. After Gonzaga’s Przemek Karnowski knocked a rebound loose from Kennedy Meeks, the Zags’ Killian Tillie wound up in a tussle for the ball with Meeks. It was called a jump-ball. One problem: Fans circulated this photo from the CBS broadcast, which shows Meeks’ hand out of bounds during the battle for possession while the ball is clearly touching his legs.

Pretty obviously, that should’ve been Gonzaga’s ball. Instead, UNC retained possession and got a bucket from Isaiah Hicks to make the score 68-65 with 26 seconds left. Gonzaga turned the ball over on its next possession, leading to a Justin Jackson dunk with 12 seconds left to make the score 70-65, ending the game for all intents and purposes.

The NCAA said the play was not reviewable.

Of course, there is nothing saying Gonzaga would’ve scored even had it been awarded possession. The bottom line is North Carolina made the plays down the stretch and the Zags didn’t. But there’s no debating that this was, indeed, a missed call. And a big one at that.

link to full story: http://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...d-by-late-but-unreviewable-questionable-call/

 

[papabeef]

maybe they should quit trying to mug each other under the basketball .

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

Hmmmmm...

Tied up ball with a player's foot OOB.

Sounds familiar....

 

[EZ2BJZ]

I think two things have been established regarding officiating a long time ago:

1. Officials are human. No game will ever be called perfectly. Period.
2. The speed of the game is too fast for most officials (and understandably so). The NCAA needs to invest in better training, a better system for replays, and to make officials full time.

Seriously, the NCAA needs to do something. Because if this continues fewer and fewer people are going to be signing up to officiate. I mean it's gotten to the point angry fans are attacking a man's business and livelihood over it. WTF? Seriously. How long before some crazed nut shows up at someone's home or place of business? Do people really believe officials purposely eff up games? If you want to get angry at someone, get angry at the right people. The NCAA could do more to help officials and they really need to.

 

[Titanhawk2]

So the refs should be thinking "Do I call this, it might dramatically effect the outcome of the game", but the players don't have to think "If I reach in I might get all arm, get the foul and dramatically effect the outcome for my team"

 

[Fan In Black]

Until the refs are managed under one body the complaining is completely worthless. Its like getting every independent contractor to follow the same plans when building houses.

 

[hooper56]

The refs are not professionals, they are part-timers. We need to go to a system where they are salaried full time employees and there needs to be oversight. The worst refs should be culled annually and training and educational forums should take place with refs and coaches together to work to make the game better. There is plenty of money to do this. Would like to see the B1G take the lead on this.

 

[DodgerHawki]

The refs are not professionals, they are part-timers. We need to go to a system where they are salaried full time employees and there needs to be oversight. The worst refs should be culled annually and training and educational forums should take place with refs and coaches together to work to make the game better. There is plenty of money to do this. Would like to see the B1G take the lead on this.

I don't think making them all full-time employees will fix it. And there is plenty of oversight already. I would like to see expanded use of replay at the end of games. No reason why things like the example cited in this thread or the Iowa-Minnesota game where the Minny guy is standing out of bounds can't be reviewed. Even questionable block/charge calls at the end of games should be reviewable. Perhaps give each coach 1 challenge they can use and see if that works.

 

[Fan In Black]

I don't think making them all full-time employees will fix it. And there is plenty of oversight already. I would like to see expanded use of replay at the end of games. No reason why things like the example cited in this thread or the Iowa-Minnesota game where the Minny guy is standing out of bounds can't be reviewed. Even questionable block/charge calls at the end of games should be reviewable. Perhaps give each coach 1 challenge they can use and see if that works.

Where is the oversight? The is no governing body for refs. They are independent contractors that are hired by conferences.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Where is the oversight? The is no governing body for refs. They are independent contractors that are hired by conferences.

Each conference has its own director of officials, and each of those leagues evaluates guys. Refs who perform poorly are not given further games by those leagues (and if they can't do P5 leagues, they aren't going to be reffing Final Fours). Adding another layer of bureaucracy I would bet would not improve the level of officiating one iota.

 

[HawkGem10]

I guess its not just us on this board who are critical of officiating.

Here is CBS Sports take: http://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...l-championship-and-lebron-james-cant-take-it/

As you will read,

Both UNC and Gonzaga played hard but not particularly well, and the officiating generated as much buzz as the buckets.

Monday night’s national championship game, a 71-65 win for the Tar Heels, finished with an average of more than one foul for every two possessions (44 fouls, 73 possessions) and only 46 field goals as both teams failed to crack 36 percent shooting for the game. Making matters worse, UNC and Gonzaga combined to miss 20 free throws in 52 attempts so even when the fouls started racking up it didn’t feel like anyone was benefiting.

Quick whistles after halftime put both teams in the bonus with 14 minutes left in the second half, with Gonzaga’s 7-foot freshman Zach Collins picking up his fourth foul with 15:53 left and 7-1 senior Przemek Karnowski getting his fourth with 8:02 left.

Collins’ fourth, an offensive foul, drew intense scrutiny for its quick whistle and the dramatic impact it played on the game. Collins played just 14 minutes, six minutes in the second half,

There is also the matter of the jump-ball call in the final minute. Meeks’ hand was out of bounds during the battle for possession. This was a monster call. The Heels were up one, 66-65 at this point, and not only did they score on the ensuing possession, but they went on to score the next six points while Gonzaga never scored again.

In total, the officiating became an unfortunate storyline that cannot be ignored in the discussion of this year’s title game. Even LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were weighing in with complaints about the tight whistles on Twitter.


Here is ESPN's take: www.espn.com/video/clip?id=19073352

View embedded media

There were bad calls both ways it is laughable that they only thing the bad calls went against Gonzaga.

 

[anon_bb9wlf9kj42py]

I heard Higgins on the radio this morning. He didn't want to be a full time employee because he wanted to be able to work the games he wanted to work, and he didn't want to be sent all over.

Like other have said, there is a ton of oversight already. Officiating is hard.

 

[BondHawk]

Maybe Gonzaga should have kept their hands out of the hoop during the Northwestern game. Karma is a bitch.

 

[Fan In Black]

Each conference has its own director of officials, and each of those leagues evaluates guys. Refs who perform poorly are not given further games by those leagues (and if they can't do P5 leagues, they aren't going to be reffing Final Fours). Adding another layer of bureaucracy I would bet would not improve the level of officiating one iota.

I disagree. The conferences do not work together. There is no chief authority to hire, train, set standards and schedule them.They can work as many games as they can get from the conferences. This isnt good and I agree with Jay Bilas and others on that side.

 

[EZ2BJZ]

The refs are not professionals, they are part-timers. We need to go to a system where they are salaried full time employees and there needs to be oversight. The worst refs should be culled annually and training and educational forums should take place with refs and coaches together to work to make the game better. There is plenty of money to do this. Would like to see the B1G take the lead on this.

That's exactly what I'm saying. There is a lot of money to be made off student athletes. There's no reason the NCAA can't invest in better training for the officials and to pay them full-time.

But again, I think the important thing is the support and training. Because it's going to get to the point fewer and fewer people are going to want to officiate. Especially if they have to put up with an idiot fan base trying to sabotage their business and livelihood over it.

 

[EZ2BJZ]

On a lighter note, anyone think referee John Higgins and former NFL coach John Gruden were S.A.B.???

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I heard Higgins on the radio this morning. He didn't want to be a full time employee because he wanted to be able to work the games he wanted to work, and he didn't want to be sent all over.

Like other have said, there is a ton of oversight already. Officiating is hard.

Thats the whole issue. Can you remember a game where everyone in the entire arena and even the entire world said, "boy that was the perfect game?" I can't and i am guessing I will never see one either. The officials try their best and some nights you are dealt a Sh!tty hand.

College basketball is the hardest sport to officiate because you have so many eye's, and refs in the stands. Not to mention you have some coaches who believe there are "gray" areas to each rule. So they argue with the officials and that get the "fans" upset as well.

Those guys the other night let a lot go, but they also called a lot as well. I mean its a damned if you do or a damned if you don't. No matter what happens there is always going to be 50% for you and 50% against you. Every call someone is going to be happy and someone will be upset. Its a no-win situation.

I remember my 2-3rd year officiating high school football we got the last game of the season between two schools (big rivals who hated each other). Neither of them were going to the playoffs, and both teams played like complete garbage all night. I bet we threw more PF's & Unsportsmanlike penalites in that 1 game, than any of us had thrown our entire careers. Kids cheap shoting each other and just poor sportsmanship all around. As we walked off the field that night there were parents yelling at us saying we didnt' let the kids play and we were horrible.

I will never forget that night, I thought we were going to get jumped and beaten. All for a measly 65$. I really began to question if I wanted to continue doing it. Luckily I did and I had a blast doing it for 15+ years. But every now and again we would get a game like that and it really makes you wonder why you do it. If the kids are not going to play by the rules, then unfortunately the refs get the blame, not the athlete or coach.

 

[MepoDawg#]

Let's not forget the air ball shot by Gonzaga that went out of bounds. 2 refs said UNC ball, the third said it was tipped and Gonzaga ball. Somehow it overruled the other two. The replay clearly showed it was not tipped. Gonzaga hit a three on the possession in question. It was with 4:47 left and Gonzaga down 2.

Also, the whole double foul on Berry and Karnowski.

 

[Fan In Black]

Let's not forget the air ball shot by Gonzaga that went out of bounds. 2 refs said UNC ball, the third said it was tipped and Gonzaga ball. Somehow it overruled the other two. The replay clearly showed it was not tipped. Gonzaga hit a three on the possession in question. It was with 4:47 left and Gonzaga down 2.

Also, the whole double foul on Berry and Karnowski.

Oh Im sure they paid a hefty price for those mistakes.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Name a sport in which the officiating (or judges in some cases) aren't the subject of constant criticism by players, coaches and fans?

About the only one I can think of is golf, and now we have people calling in mistakes after watching it on TV.

Better officials, better training, expanded replay - all make sense. But these won't come close to "fixing" basketball officiating. It's simply too fast.

 

[thirteenandtwo]

Name a sport in which the officiating (or judges in some cases) aren't the subject of constant criticism by players, coaches and fans?

About the only one I can think of is golf, and now we have people calling in mistakes after watching it on TV.

Better officials, better training, expanded replay - all make sense. But these won't come close to "fixing" basketball officiating. It's simply too fast.

Tennis is the best... officials can't fix games.... they have little influence on outcomes.
if there is a bad call made, a player can challenge the call and get it right.
that is why Tennis is the best of all sports.

 

[HawkRugged17]

Tennis is the best... officials can't fix games.... they have little influence on outcomes.
if there is a bad call made, a player can challenge the call and get it right.
that is why Tennis is the best of all sports.

 

[thirteenandtwo]

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John McEnroe is a big reason why Tennis has greatly improved from the days when he was a major player...

the introduction of the Hawk-Eye System has effectively ended all controversy regarding calls made by linesman and the chair umpire.

tennis players will still grumble from time to time... but... the system is in place to get every single call right.

and btw..... the Hawk-Eye system could be used in football and basketball as well...
why its not is beyond me... I can only assume its because ESPN wants the ability to fix games.

perhaps you have a better explanation for why its not in use.

 

[hooper56]

Judgement calls are one thing. The official usually has a better angle than the guy in the stands. But be consistent. Don't let a lot of contact go and then suddenly call a ticky tack foul. That's not fair and that's I think what people have a problem with. It is one thing to honestly miss a call. It is another thing entirely to put the screws to a team. We all know that happens. Also I do not think a referee should be gambling on the sport (or the games) they officiate. Should be illegal. Some of these guys are heavy bettors.

 

[denmar81]

The best officials are awarded the final four. When Ted Valentine is allowed to officiate a final four game then there is something wrong with the way officials are graded.

 

[papabeef]

I think two things have been established regarding officiating a long time ago:

1. Officials are human. No game will ever be called perfectly. Period.
2. The speed of the game is too fast for most officials (and understandably so). The NCAA needs to invest in better training, a better system for replays, and to make officials full time.

Seriously, the NCAA needs to do something. Because if this continues fewer and fewer people are going to be signing up to officiate. I mean it's gotten to the point angry fans are attacking a man's business and livelihood over it. WTF? Seriously. How long before some crazed nut shows up at someone's home or place of business? Do people really believe officials purposely eff up games? If you want to get angry at someone, get angry at the right people. The NCAA could do more to help officials and they really need to.

excellent post very true .

 

[papabeef]

The refs are not professionals, they are part-timers. We need to go to a system where they are salaried full time employees and there needs to be oversight. The worst refs should be culled annually and training and educational forums should take place with refs and coaches together to work to make the game better. There is plenty of money to do this. Would like to see the B1G take the lead on this.

mistakes are still going to be made . you will never stop mistakes .

 

[papabeef]

Judgement calls are one thing. The official usually has a better angle than the guy in the stands. But be consistent. Don't let a lot of contact go and then suddenly call a ticky tack foul. That's not fair and that's I think what people have a problem with. It is one thing to honestly miss a call. It is another thing entirely to put the screws to a team. We all know that happens. Also I do not think a referee should be gambling on the sport (or the games) they officiate. Should be illegal. Some of these guys are heavy bettors.

unless you are inside the head of an official how do you know when an official makes an honest mistake or is putting the screws to someone ? the answer is you dont .

 

[MooMooLover]

unless you are inside the head of an official how do you know when an official makes an honest mistake or is putting the screws to someone ? the answer is you dont .

You're being very naive.

 

[papabeef]

You're being very naive.

and you believe in to many conspiracy theories .

 

[pocha444444]

So the refs should be thinking "Do I call this, it might dramatically effect the outcome of the game", but the players don't have to think "If I reach in I might get all arm, get the foul and dramatically effect the outcome for my team"

Collins got called for multiple fouls where he was straight up. What would you tell a player to do in that situation?