[d-wil]

Hello all -
I'm new to the site (1st post)...I'm also one of those "media types"...

I have, am and will be critical of referees... However, I will also laud referees for sticking to his/her guns in the face of what is, during a game, extreme pressure... Hopefully, through this site, I will become more informed and more appreciative of about the art of seeing calls at full speed and the processes that officials go through in making calls of all kinds...

With that said, I have some questions concerning the Duke/UConn game: Do any of you think the game was over-refereed, i.e. too many fouls called (44)... If so, is this because the officials are as and remain as tight as the players?... Were the reach-in calls on Sheldon Williams (three, I believe), all warranted?... Is it possible that ego was involved in the manner in which the game (or any game, for that matter) was called?...

One Gonzaga/Nevada question: Can anyone explain the fouls Rony Turiaf incurred early in the first half, then early in the second half (if they're remembered)?... As a layman, it appeared that a push by Nevada center, Nick Fazekas, had much less effect on Turiaf or Cory Violette than a bump by either of those two Zag big men, therefore the pushes weren't noticed(?), seen(?) - I don't know what... I hope someone can help with this, because the seemingly tight calls ruined the game... If I remember correctly, the Wolfpack was in the 1-and-1 with 13 minutes left in the half, and were in the double bonus for the last nine minutes of the half... By halftime Nevada shot 15 free throws to Gonzaga's four...How can there be such a foul discrepancy between two teams that are well-coached and both playing as hard as possible? (whoops, that's two questions)...

Two final questions: Are any of you in favor of making NCAA D-1 men's and women's referees full-time positions?... Would making officials full-time NCAA employees help. hinder, or have no effect on how games are called from the first game of the season to the championship game?...