Marci Weston?

[jeffpea]

If you were the official who started the clock prematurely in this instance, what does your "common-sense-o-meter" tell you to do in this instance?

Given the situation, I would have handled it exactly the way John Higgins (the official in question) did. Essentially say, "My bad. I had the clock start before it should have. I'm not going to penalize Kentucky 1+ second when there is only 15 or so seconds left. Put the clock back to where it was before we started, Kentucky gets the ball back on the side --- let's play...."

Per the rulebook, not the exact way to handle that situation, but certainly the most equitable and fairest resolution for both teams. That is exactly why an official like John Higgins has the schedule that he did this season - judgement.