Still wondering what happened to James Breeding? He worked the Final Four last year. I wonder if he could not work being hurt or some other issue.

Peace

Sweet 16 / Elite 8
 

Does anyone have any objections either way? For the most part the committee got it right. I know all 40 are better than I am....

Figured it had to be an injury or something personal. Great guy hope he gets back to where he needs to be.

Peace

There was an article late in the season which said that Teddy V was still on the NCAA persona non grata list for the NCAA Div. I Tournament and yet the NCAA assigned him to an NIT game.

MTD, Sr.

Hmm... I was thinking that the Elite 8 officials were chosen from the Sweet 16 officials, but if there are 40 officials on this list, that isn't possible. It looks like the officials on the list are only working one game, Sweet 16 (8*3=24) or Elite 8 (4*3=12), with one alternate at each location for 40 total.

Is that the normal process each year? And then next week, are the final four and championship officials chosen from the 12 that work the Elite 8, or from the 36 total officials working games this weekend?

The crews have already been assigned for each of the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games with 1 alternate at each site for sets of games.

The Final 4 officials will be chosen from the pool of 36 that work the floor.

Of the 36 on the floor, 29 worked last season. Of those 7 not working, at least 5 are injured or retired. It seems almost impossible to break through to that level.

Likely the same with the Final Four. Breeding and Boroski are gone, so at least 2 new people will work, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see 6-7 returners from last year.

Excellent info and something to think about for those on this forum who are assignors at the HS level. How much do you go with your best versus giving someone else an opportunity?

Opportunity Knocking ...
 

My local high school board made a big change a few years ago. Previous to the change, our local members were allowed to officiate in both the boys and girls state tournament (if selected by both gender coaches). The change forced local members (if selected by both gender coaches) to pick only one gender for the tournament.

Lots of yelling and screaming at local meetings, but I believe that it worked out for the best, offering more post season opportunities for some of our younger, but still very skilled, officials.

The state made a major tournament change this past year. Instead of tournament officials being selected by coaches votes (as its been for over forty years), tournament officials would be selected by local boards. My local board utilized our assignment commissioner, our assistant assignment commissioner, and the co-chairs of our evaluation committee to make such selections.

I recently observed twenty-two different local officials in eleven state tournament games. Everyone "belonged" there.

Well, they claim the best get the opportunity each year, not based on what opportunity you deserve or how many Regional Finals you worked and then you get to the Final Four. Is that what really happens? Not sure, but that is what they tell folks.

Peace

Conference supervisors have to submit their watch list prior to the season.

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At the high school level, I think giving these opportunities is a key part of recruitment and retention. Our state tournaments have 45 slots on the boys side and 45 on the girls side (everyone works one game). A rough counting is that about 10 officials on each side were new this year, paired with 2 that have had the experience before. I was honored with a boys assignment this year and had two first time partners who did a great job. Personally, I think we need to continue to give these chances or we will continue to lose talented people.

At the college level I'm guessing that's not an issue, but evaluating officials is so subjective in practice that there's no way they couldn't mix things up and bring in a new group each year. I find it "safe" and lazy to not do so, to be honest.

There is money, legacy, reputation, and standards on the line at the college level. Just look at the Final Four this year, some brand-new teams. You do not want to have a bunch of people who have no experience or cannot handle the stage or have not been on that stage working the big games. And unlike high school, have every call and situation scrutinized more than it is now. We can debate over who is the best and who should be in a place. But if these guys are the top guys in the biggest conferences every year, I see why they get opportunities multiple times.

Peace

FF Selecitons
 

Jeff Anderson
Roger Ayers
Ron Groover
John Higgins
Keith Kimble
Kipp Kissinger
Terry Oglesby
Mike Reed
Doug Sirmons
Bert Smith
Paul Szelc

Metaphorically, at least, there is not much diversity, equity, and inclusion in the assignment of Final Four officials.

All excellent officials, no doubt. But we have some teams we’ve never seen in the National Semifinals before. I guess it would be nice to see some officials we’ve never seen there before, too.


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