The tone of my last post might have sounded a little hostile. I didn't intend it that way. Let me just say that I appreciate the back-and-forth of this particular train of thought. So let me answer the questions you posted. . .
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Originally Posted by btaylor64
-Do you think these are really the 90 best, outstanding, PLAYCALLERS in the country?
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I honestly can't answer that.
Somebody thought they were the best people to have on those games, though. There is obviously some value on game management vs. strictly playcalling. I'm sure that there are some excellent playcallers who were not selected for other reasons. I'm also fairly sure that many, if not most, of the best playcallers in the country were in the tournament.
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You don't think there are a plethora of early to mid 30 yr. olds who could do better?
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No, I don't. There are a few, I'm sure. But a "plethora" implies to me a "whole boatload", people lined up out the door. And I don't think there are a whole boatload of 30-somethings out there who are better than the guys chosen by Mr. Adams and the selection committee.
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do you think they make more foul calls based on its a foul or not a foul vs. "I can get away with this foul" to keep everything in check?
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Again, I can't honestly answer that simply because I've never worked with the Burrs and Higginses of the world. But I'll say 2 things.
1) I would hope that they call the play first, and then manage the game and/or coaches. If the call is there (talking mainly fouls now), I would hope that they would make or pass on that call based on the advantage gained, not based on, "Gee, I don't want to get Jim Boeheim upset".
2) At one of the pro-philosophy camps I attended, one of the big points they talked about was that the official's call must FIT the situation.
IOW, you can can call a play correctly but still be wrong because it doesn't fit the situation. There is room for game management calls. Simply being the best playcaller in the world isn't enough. While we all strive to call our plays correctly as often as possible, sometimes you let that carry in the backcourt go in the last minute of a blowout. Technically, that's an NCI. But in the real world, that's a correct call.