Was it really that bad?

[Scrapper1]

I really enjoyed watching Caitlin Clark in the national semi, but I was unable to watch any of the Women's Final. This morning, however, I've heard several commentators say that the officiating was particularly poor. I expect to hear this from the loudmouths on TV, but I've heard from at least 3 people who are not normally ref-bashers.

For those that watched, did you find the officiating to be shaky? I honestly can't imagine the whole crew being bad for the whole game, but I've heard 2 different people say that the crew should not work the tournament again. But I honestly can't believe that it couldn't have been that bad, right?

Honest thoughts?

[Nevadaref]

In my opinion, the game was not well-called.
The issue was that it was unclear what level of contact was a foul and what physical play was acceptable. The threshold was not defined well.
Early there were several whistles for minor contact, which probably should have been let go. Unfortunately, this put a few of the starters in foul trouble (especially from LSU) and forced them to the bench. The second quarter also had two (soft) offensive fouls on Clark for pushing the defender away after the defender was allowed to be physical and cause contact. So this seemed out of balance to me. Either whistle the first foul or allow both players to battle.

However, in the third quarter a post player from each team was permitted to turn into the defender while leading with an elbow to clear space. Neither was whistled as a PC. Both were looked at on the monitor without change. (Neither was an F1, but both should have been called PC during live action.) The first play had a defensive foul whistled and the second had nothing.
Then there was the technical foul, which was not a public display and easily could have been ignored given the game situation (time, score, foul count on a top player, etc.). I would fully support whacking a player for clear disrespectful behavior that everyone can see, but this was not that. Clark was huddling with her teammates, and if something was said only a couple of people heard it. (Note: She has been a complainer and displayed poor behavior in prior games this season.) If the T was for throwing the ball away, it came too late and from the official on the opposite side of the court, so I’m not convinced that was the cause.
Finally, what about the taunting by LSU at the end of the game? They have a large lead so a tech here isn’t going to alter the outcome, but it would send a clear message that such behavior is unacceptable, yet this was completely ignored.

Was it poor enough to warrant being blocked from future tournament assignments? No.
Not being assigned another Final Four contest? Maybe
The game management of these three officials didn’t seem to be at the level of a massive Final (media attention, big crowd, large TV audience).

My soccer officiating background has taught me that in such situations, over-calling the game deprives the audience of a show. They are watching to see a performance and the referee should strive to facilitate that. One should only penalize and remove the players when necessary. I’m convinced that being tight early to “set the tone” of the contest only serves to frustrate the players, coaches, and fans. Big games call for raising the threshold somewhat and using management skills to control the players and coaches. These officials just went straight to the whistle. The Iowa coach even commented following the game that she was particularly frustrated because the officials wouldn’t talk to her. So it was clearly a lack of personal skills and people management. Obviously, I wasn’t present in the building or on the sideline, but it seems that the wrong approach was taken by the officiating crew. I would have liked to see them manage the people more and blow the whistle less.
Of course, I’ve never been assigned an NCAA tournament game, let alone a Final.

[BillyMac]

The pool report ... said "The second offense was when No. 22 from Iowa picked up the ball and failed to immediately pass the ball to the official after the whistle was blown."

I've been around interscholastic basketball (not intercollegiate basketball) for fifty-five years, as a player, coach, and official, and have never seen this called.

As an official I've warned players about this kind of activity on many occasions, even stopping the game to have a serious chat with the player, but I've never called it, or observed it called.

It takes a lot of courage by an official to call this on one of the top players in the nation, putting her in foul trouble, in a national championship game watched by millions of people.

The calling official must have had a good reason to call it?

If this happened in my biggest middle school game of the year, with one of my best middle school players, I would have definitely passed, or just warned.

But granted, I know more about rocket science than I know about NCAA rules.

[BillyMac]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1642635083856191500

Maybe it was Coach Mulkey's bright outfit that made her stand out like a sore thumb, but if she is on the court and accidentally comes into contact with me in my high school game, at the minimum, she'll get a written warning in the book for her action.

But granted, I know more about rocket surgery than I know about NCAA rules.

[BillyMac]

Lots of hand checking allowed by both teams (more noticeable by Caitlin Clark defenders, Clark retaliated and was called for two player control fouls).

We've done a good job of cleaning up hand checking in Connecticut high school basketball since the NFHS rule language changes and point of emphasis.

I guess that freedom of movement is not a priority in wimmen’s college basketball?

(Just kidding, knowing the disdain that some have for 28.5 female basketball.)

Of course I know more about brain science than I know about NCAA rules.

[BillyMac]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1642650038886170624

https://twitter.com/i/status/1642649994216833026

Angel Reese follows and taunts Caitlin Clark for eight seconds.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1640182237005004801

I know that Clark did it in the semifinals (I saw it and didn't like it), but Reese's taunt in the finals seems different, longer, targeted, mean spirited, and less enthusiastically spontaneous than Clark’s taunt.

As an official I may have missed Clark's short-lived semifinal taunt (if I saw it I would have addressed it), but the eight second final taunt in my high school game would have definitely gotten my attention and a technical foul.

Reese said that it was disrespectful for Clark to do it to sister SEC school South Carolina, I agree, but it was also disrespectful for Reese to do it to Clark.

At least Clark didn't follow around her South Carolina opponents for eight seconds and stick it in their face.

Of course I know more about brain surgery than I know about NCAA rules.

[JRutledge]

When players draw attention to themselves, especially on the biggest of stages, there is a chance that players might respond when they get the chance. Not the first time that has happened in sports. Seen it with Lebron James or Tariq Hill of the KC Chiefs or when teams go after a team dance or some gesture from the fans (Florida and Florida State come to mind). This is no different and could have been addressed better, but it wasn't.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Angel Reese follows and taunts Caitlin Clark for eight seconds. I know that Clark did it in the semifinals (I saw it and didn't like it), but Reese's taunt in the finals seems different, longer, targeted, mean spirited, and less enthusiastically spontaneous than Clark’s taunt. Reese said that it was disrespectful for Clark to do it to sister SEC school South Carolina, I agree, but it was also disrespectful for Reese to do it to Clark. At least Clark didn't follow around her South Carolina opponents for eight seconds and stick it in their face.

Angel Reese's NIL Value Leaps To $1.3 Million

https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/...k/70103680007/

I wonder what Ms. Reese's NIL value would be if she "only" won the national championship and didn't get involved with the taunting controversy, with gasoline poured on the racial aspect of this fire by the media (and Ms. Reese herself)?

More NIL money, or less NIL money?

Did Dr. Jill Biden's (I'm a big fan or Dr. Biden, but not in this situation) controversial (possibly racist) and new precedent setting White House invitation to both teams, and Ms. Reese's negative RSVP to Dr. Biden, increase or decrease Ms. Reese's NIL value?

Will NIL deals and the transfer portal (regarded as a student right forever available to non-sports students in the past) lead to the opening of the Pandora's Box we all know and love as colleges sports?

I used to be a big Celtics fan and Red Sox fan. Now with free agents and trades based on salary caps happening so often I don't recognize the team members without a scorecard. I just begin to get comfortable with a favorite player, or two, or three, and "poof", they're gone.

Now I can't count on the players sticking around at UCONN (men or women) for three or four years due to the transfer portal. And every year we seem to get some transfer portal players that I only get to know for a year, or two, and then their eligibility runs out. And this "fifth" COVID eligibility year confuses me. I can't wait until all these "COVID players" use up their "extra year" of eligibility, or otherwise move on to the next level.

Now could somebody please help me down from this soapbox. I've been blathering on for too long a time on too many subjects and I'm getting dizzy up here.

[FlasherZ]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

I really enjoyed watching Caitlin Clark in the national semi, but I was unable to watch any of the Women's Final. This morning, however, I've heard several commentators say that the officiating was particularly poor. I expect to hear this from the loudmouths on TV, but I've heard from at least 3 people who are not normally ref-bashers.

For those that watched, did you find the officiating to be shaky? I honestly can't imagine the whole crew being bad for the whole game, but I've heard 2 different people say that the crew should not work the tournament again. But I honestly can't believe that it couldn't have been that bad, right?

Honest thoughts?

I found it to be completely different from the way that other games in the tournament were called. My observation is that the final game was called far tighter than many other games in the tournament and that tended to throw a lot of players and coaches off, especially in the first 2 qtrs.

Should they be denied future tournament opportunities? Probably not, but I do think game-to-game consistency needs to be looked at.

[CJP]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

I really enjoyed watching Caitlin Clark in the national semi, but I was unable to watch any of the Women's Final. This morning, however, I've heard several commentators say that the officiating was particularly poor. I expect to hear this from the loudmouths on TV, but I've heard from at least 3 people who are not normally ref-bashers.

For those that watched, did you find the officiating to be shaky? I honestly can't imagine the whole crew being bad for the whole game, but I've heard 2 different people say that the crew should not work the tournament again. But I honestly can't believe that it couldn't have been that bad, right?

Honest thoughts?

It couldn't have been that bad, they combined for 187 points. Iowa, who led the country in scoring at 87 ppg scored 85. This output despite 37 fouls is not all that bad considering the median foul count per team in NCAA women's basketball is 17 fouls per game.

LSU was the better team. They won.

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by CJP

It couldn't have been that bad, they combined for 187 points. Iowa, who led the country in scoring at 87 ppg scored 85. This output despite 37 fouls is not all that bad considering the median foul count per team in NCAA women's basketball is 17 fouls per game.

LSU was the better team. They won.

LSU was the better team. Unfortunately, the officiating of this game did make a difference in the game. We don't know how LSU would have fared if they hand't picked up foul trouble in the first half. I do feel the calls on Clark did influence her game. Watching the semi-final, she seemed dangerous on dribble penetration and then either scoring or dishing the ball to open teammates. This aspect of her game seemed largely taken away by the two foul calls early.

The call I had the biggest problem with was the T on Clark. Yes, by the strict definition of the rule, this was the correct call. I don't think this was the intent of the rule, nor the spirit of the rule. In my opinion the spirit of the rule and intent is to prevent the game from being delayed (thus the DOG warning issued first). You can't tell me the game was delayed because of Clark's actions that got her the T.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

LSU was the better team. Unfortunately, the officiating of this game did make a difference in the game. We don't know how LSU would have fared if they hand't picked up foul trouble in the first half. I do feel the calls on Clark did influence her game. Watching the semi-final, she seemed dangerous on dribble penetration and then either scoring or dishing the ball to open teammates. This aspect of her game seemed largely taken away by the two foul calls early.

The call I had the biggest problem with was the T on Clark. Yes, by the strict definition of the rule, this was the correct call. I don't think this was the intent of the rule, nor the spirit of the rule. In my opinion the spirit of the rule and intent is to prevent the game from being delayed (thus the DOG warning issued first). You can't tell me the game was delayed because of Clark's actions that got her the T.

It's not about the delay, it's about the act of making somebody fetch the ball when you could handed it to an official, or just simply left the ball alone. Instead she CHOSE to grab the ball and purposely toss it towards the stands and away from the official. It's rolled up into the DOG rule to allow for a warning instead of immediately going to a Tech.

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by Raymond

It's not about the delay, it's about the act of making somebody fetch the ball when you could handed it to an official, or just simply left the ball alone. Instead she CHOSE to grab the ball and purposely toss it towards the stands and away from the official. It's rolled up into the DOG rule allow for a warning instead of immediately going to a Tech.

It is also about the situation you are officiating. Yes, you do need to officiating a national championship game differently than you do an early season game. In my opinion, this call should not have been made, and nothing any of the so-called experts on this forum can say will change my mind on that.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

It is also about the situation you are officiating. Yes, you do need to officiating a national championship game differently than you do an early season game. In my opinion, this call should not have been made, and nothing any of the so-called experts on this forum can say will change my mind on that.

Thanks for the info. If that's what you were told to do when you ref'd that level of game, fine. I'm sure it won't change anybody else's opinion though.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

It is also about the situation you are officiating. Yes, you do need to officiating a national championship game differently than you do an early season game. In my opinion, this call should not have been made, and nothing any of the so-called experts on this forum can say will change my mind on that.

The only thing that should be done is recognize the emotion of the game is going to be different. But that does not mean you change the entire rulebook or ignore things you would not during the year. They got there because of what they did during the regular season. So as stated, opinion is noted, but I disagree with that premise.

Peace