Welmer was "shut out" by his own doing this year. He declined his NCAA tournament selection because he only got assigned one game in the first round instead of two games like most veteran officials.

It must be nice to be in a position to turnback a tournament game.

Showing on ESPN classic right now.

Of course, he had the NIT to fall back on.

...except the only game he worked was in the first round. Hank Nichols obviously coordinates with whoever is assigning for the NIT. You can bet he would pass on his displeasure about someone turning back an assignment because he felt he deserved better.

If you ask me, Hank Nichols is way too NIT-picky. :p

And you know all that for sure...how?

The assignors for the NCAA and NIT have to coordinate with each other. How else does the NIT assignor know who's available?

The second part of the statement is conjecture on my part. If I were assigning NIT games and Welmer was available to work any of my games on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the first weekend of the NCAA tournament, I might inquire about the reason.

By calling the officials? By checking an online availability chart? :confused:

I don't know how it works, but there are certainly ways to find an official's availability without being in direct contact with the other assignor.

Having said that, it would certainly be easiest if the NCAA and NIT assignors communicated with each other.