Here's a list of the 48 officials who worked yesterday in the DI Men's Tournament...Congratulations to all...To those who know, are there any surprises or well deserving first timers we should know about?

Listed as 3 man crews and I noted which site they worked at.

1.Ed Hightower(Greensboro)
2.Eric Curry
3.Lamar Simpson
4.JD Collins(Jacksonville)
5.Jerry Heater
6.Joe Demato
7.Dan Chrisman (salt lake)
8.Mike Foote
9.Mike Sanzere
10.John Hughes(Jacksonville)
11.Tim Higgins
12.Zelton Steed
13.Gary Maxwell (San Diego)
14.Jamie Luckie
15.Mike Roberts
16.Mike Kitts (Greensboro)
17.Sid Rodeheffer
18.Wally Rutecki
19.Doug Simmons (Salt Lake)
20.Karl Hess
21.Leslie Jones
22.Bill McCarthy (San Diego)
23.Larry Rose
24.Ray Natili
25.Bert Smith (Greensboro)
26.John Higgins
27.Mike Thibodeaux
28.Bernard Clinton (Jacksonville)
29.Pat Driscoll
30.Tom Wood
31.Brent Hampton (Salt Lake)
32.Steven Skiles
33.Ted Valentine
34.Curtis Shaw (San Diego)
35.Doug Shows
36.Rich Giallela
37.George Washington (Salt Lake)
38.Mike Stuart
39.Tom Lopes
40.Fran Connolly (Greensboro)
41.James Haney
42.Winston Stith
43.Joe Lindsay (Jacksonville)
44.Mike Eggers
45.Verne Harris
46.Brian O'Connell (San Diego)
47.Bruce Benedict
48.Steve Welmer

NC Prediction:

Gonzaga vs. UConn by Rose (CC, R), Harris (U1), Lopes (U2).

Go Verne Harris in Jacksonville!!! I'll be attending his officials camp in July out in NM. For any official who is like me and trying to get into the NCAA Circuit, you should really check out his camp.

I've had the privilege of meeting Tommy Lopes on a number of occasions, one of which I took 4 bucks off of him playing golf. As a young official, just breaking my way into somewhat big varsity ball, to play golf and be able to be on a first name basis with someone who has worked 2 Final Fours is incredible. He's definitely one of the "good guys" in our profession.

And, they decided to trot HIghtower out again to open the 2nd round.

1st game, Duke vs GW...Officials are Ed High Tower, SId Rodeheffer and Fran Connolly.

Just heard from a friend in Jacksonville ... Higgins, Lindsay and Harris for the UW-Milwaukee/Florida later today.

Who was it that predicted we'd never see Higgins on a tournament game again. . .?

I was surprised not to see Tom Eades in the mix this year. I think he does an outstanding job.

Is it unusual to for one official to have the same team in two consecutive tournament games? Didn't Mr. Higgins also do Florida's first round game?

Chuck,

I was poking fun at the poster who was talking about how bad his list of veterans was. In his list, instead of writing "Tim Higgins," he wrote "Ted Higgins." I replied that I thought he'd get his wish, that he'd never see "Ted Higgins" in the NCAA Tournament after yesterday.

John

Oh, ok. I caught it when Dan made the same joke, but yours went right over my head. (Insert short joke here.)

Your memory serves correctly. I thought it was also unusual that Joe Lindsey would be slotted for this game, since he is one of the SEC's regular-rotation guys.

That said, I think those things are overblown. Higgins has as much credibility as anybody in the business, and Lindsey has been around long enough to prove himself. Clougherty put him on the Duke at Georgetown game, so I'd say he's established himself to the point where nobody should question this.

he is in the mix
 

he worked pitt and kent st at auburn hills