2021 - NCAA Tournament Referees

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

That is only 58 names. Normally, there are 96 because there are 32 first round games. Is the NCAA doing something different this year due to Covid and the entire tourney being conducted in Indiana? Will guys be working more than one first round contest?

I know something came out earlier in the season saying there would be 50 officials selected. Guess they bumped it up to 58. I no longer have access to the site since I didn't register this past season.

[Altor]

Originally Posted by Raymond

I know something came out earlier in the season saying there would be 50 officials selected. Guess they bumped it up to 58. I no longer have access to the site since I didn't register this past season.

I could absolutely see them saying that nearly everybody is working three games in the first week. (4+32+16)*3 = 156 officials. If they had 52, that gives everybody 3 games. Having 6 extra gives them some leeway if somebody tests positive or can't work due to injury, etc.

[Camron Rust]

Without having to travel more than a small distance, it makes sense to use fewer officials. They can easily make their games and that lets them have fewer people in the "bubble" to track and manage. Not that it makes much difference to them at that level, they have to have fewer hotel rooms....are they really pinching pennies?? (doubt that is the reason).

[JRutledge]

This is not a normal year. So there has not been the same number of games or officials working those games across the country this season. A lot of guys have worked only one conference for the most part and have been working more games in a year. The B1G for example paid some officials a salary (if accepted) and did not pay them per game for this year so they could work all over the B1G and be available for just their conference. Some officials did not take that contract because they felt they could make more money working multiple conferences. That is why you would see some officials work a lot of lower-level conferences in TV situations. So I think this process is to eliminate the possibility for transmission and fill one where needed. Also more officials would have more possibility for problems. The goal is to simply get this tournament in this year.

Peace

[Multiple Sports]

No Mike Roberts ???

[dahoopref]

Originally Posted by Multiple Sports

No Mike Roberts ???

Not that I know of. Keep in mind that a small number of normal tournament officials were selected as "alternates" (L Spaulding, T Nuñez that I know of). They will be at the quarantined hotel ready to work in case an official becomes infected with Covid.