Final Four Officials

johnSandlin · #1 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 25, 2002, 10:09am

Has anyone heard yet if the NCAA has announced its Final Four officiating crews? If anyone can shead some insight, please do

Mark Dexter · #2 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 25, 2002, 03:21pm

Sorry - NCAA doesn't release game officials until one hour prior to the game, and I don't think that the member of the basketball committee I know would be willing to tell me who they will be.

However, I'm guessing that Tom Rucker will be the R for the National Championship game because (as CBS tells us time and time again) this is his last season. Only time will tell.

johnSandlin · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 25, 2002, 04:10pm

Thanks for the message Mark. You know, I had been thinking about that Tom Rucker might be one the officials this weekend. However, Thanks again for the info.

Tim Roden · #4 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 25, 2002, 05:31pm

Ask the airlines what 10 names were put on the tickets sent out by the NCAA.

Mark Dexter · #5 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 25, 2002, 06:02pm

If you want to know who the 10 will be selected from, go to finalfour.net and check out the officials from the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games - those are the guys who are eligible for a Final Four assignment.

(I copied them into a post here, but accidentally erased the names!)

johnSandlin · #6 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 25, 2002, 08:05pm

Here is the list of officials the NCAA will choose from to work the Final Four? With these names, any guesses on crew assignments?
Jim Burr, Scott Thornley, Tom Rucker, Steve Welmer, Ed Hightower, Zelton Steed, David Hall, Leslie Jones, Paul Jannsen, Tony Greene, Bruce Benedict, Tim Higgins, Larry Rose, Pat Driscoll, Mike Kitts, Eddie Corbett, Mike Wood, John Cahill, Terry Moore, John Hughes, Mark Whitehead, Tommy Nunez, Tom Lopes, Richard Cartmell.
Here are my guesses:
Semi-Final #1, or #2
Jim Burr(R)
Steve Welmer(U-1)
Larry Rose(U-2)

Semi-Final #2, or #1
Ed Hightower(R)
Zelton Steed(U-1)
Eddie Corbett(U-2)

NCAA Final:
Tom Rucker(R)
Scott Thornley(U-1)
Tim Higgins(U-2)

Tim Roden · #7 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 25, 2002, 08:10pm

And your alternate is?

johnSandlin · #8 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 25, 2002, 08:19pm

Ah yes, forgot about the alternate official.
My guess is John Cahill, because I know he has worked a final four in the past. Thanks for the reminder about the alternate Tim.

BktBallRef · #9 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 25, 2002, 08:40pm

Is this the same Tommy Nunez that worked in the NBA?

crew · #10 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 25, 2002, 11:49pm

Quote:

Originally posted by BktBallRef
Is this the same Tommy Nunez that worked in the NBA?

no, this is his son. he also works in the pro system as well(nbdl). nunez sr. is still in the nba. solid play caller - players and coaches really like this guy. he is very highly rated in the pro system as well as nc2a. you can probly catch him on espn during the nbdl play offs. he is a short hispanic guy with big hair.

dsavolt · #11 (**permalink**) Tue Mar 26, 2002, 10:34am

I believe David Hall, will be one of the Official's. He worked the championship game two years ago, and the final four last year. Jim Burr, Tim Higgins and Ed Hightower will surely be three of the officials.

ChuckElias · #12 (**permalink**) Tue Mar 26, 2002, 10:52am

Next year, maybe TH can set up a bracket for us with the names of the top 65 NCAA officials. We can all make our picks for who will advance to the Final Four.

Chuck

Tim Roden · #13 (**permalink**) Tue Mar 26, 2002, 01:13pm

Quote:

Originally posted by dsavolt
I believe David Hall, will be one of the Official's. He worked the championship game two years ago, and the final four last year. Jim Burr, Tim Higgins and Ed Hightower will surely be three of the officials.

I know David and you probably know him too since you are also from Colorado. I think he will get one of the semi games that does not include a Big XII school. The problem I see with him getting a final four game was he was the R when Duke lost. We will see what the NCAA thought about that game.

Mark Dexter · #14 (**permalink**) Tue Mar 26, 2002, 03:52pm

Quote:

Originally posted by ChuckElias
Next year, maybe TH can set up a bracket for us with the names of the top 65 NCAA officials. We can all make our picks for who will advance to the Final Four.

Chuck

That might be interesting.

Of course, we wouldn't know who would be eligible for the regionals until the First round games were done, but might still be fun.

BTW, 100 officials are selected for the Opening Round and 1st/2nd Round games.

jbduke · #15 (**permalink**) Tue Mar 26, 2002, 06:02pm

What happened to Gerald Boudreaux? He's worked something like three out of the last four championship games, and this year he didn't even make it to the third round. I was surprised and disappointed, as I think he's the best in the game. Did he have something go badly wrong in one of his first two games?

Just curious,
jb