Notable absences (NCAA officials)

[biz]

4 officials in the 2008 tourney worked the 2nd weekend but only received a first round game. They were: Kelly Self, Rick Hartzell, Gerry Pollard, and Bert Smith.

All 4 worked the Sweet 16 round and none of them advanced to the Final Four.

In 2007 there were 2 and in 2006 there were 3. They all worked the Sweet 16 and none of them advanced to the Final Four.

Do you guys assume that the highest rated officials from the first weekend work the Elite 8 games? Because that would be interesting to see the percentage of guys who work in the final four from the Sweet 16 round.

[dahoopref]

Originally Posted by biz

4 officials in the 2008 tourney worked the 2nd weekend but only received a first round game. They were: Kelly Self, Rick Hartzell, Gerry Pollard, and Bert Smith.

All 4 worked the Sweet 16 round and none of them advanced to the Final Four.

In 2007 there were 2 and in 2006 there were 3. They all worked the Sweet 16 and none of them advanced to the Final Four.

Do you guys assume that the highest rated officials from the first weekend work the Elite 8 games? Because that would be interesting to see the percentage of guys who work in the final four from the Sweet 16 round.

According to my sources, getting only 1 game in the first round of the 64 does not preclude an official to advance to the Sweet 16. Sometimes the 2nd game can hurt an official if they grade out badly during the 2nd round game and thus don't advance to the Sweet 16 round.

The Sweet 16 round is assigned to 9 officials per site. They are told on Monday (today) which game they will work; a Sweet 16 (Thurs or Fri) game or Elite 8 (Sat or Sun). One (or two) of the officials on the Elite 8 game will be the alternate for the crews on the Sweet 16 game.

Of course this was the case last year with Hank Nichols. How John Adams will do it this year is entirely up to him.

[biz]

The true notable absences are the big name guys who usually get 2 games who didn't this year. That's a pretty big message from a new assignor. Hightower, Tim Higgins, Mike Kitts etc.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by biz

The true notable absences are the big name guys who usually get 2 games who didn't this year. That's a pretty big message from a new assignor. Hightower, Tim Higgins, Mike Kitts etc.

So much for the Mike Kitts rumors.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

So much for the Mike Kitts rumors.

I believe that he was referring to the FIRST weekend, not necessarily that he wouldn't advance to the 2nd weekend.

At least that is the way that I took the comment.

[biz]

as I posted earlier there is past practice of a small number of officials advancing to the 2nd weekend after only working the first round. Good for Mike Kitts, maybe he responded with a good first round game, but I still say that those veteran officials only getting a first round game is a big message from Adams.

[kwv001]

Originally Posted by biz

Good for Mike Kitts, maybe he responded with a good first round game,

His first round game was the double OT game between Ohio State and Sienna. I wondered if that was any factor in not working the second round, but from the discussion here, it seems that second round assigments are already made prior to first round games even being played.

I would think that for each round of the tournament you would want your best officials working. If someone can be selected to work the second weekend, but not in the second round, doesn't that imply that the best aren't necessarily working the second round?

[rulesmaven]

I watched Valentine in person last night in Glendale in the Mizzou Memphis. Very solid game. Tough game, too. Both teams were essentially driving in the paint all game long. There were two technicals, and they needed two video reviews. I think Valentine may have had 5 of the first 6 calls of the game -- five fouls and a violation. Very demonstrative to start, but then he settled down. I think those guys were probably a bit winded by the second half. That game needed an athletic crew. I bet there were 80 free throws shot in that game.

Interesting watching games in a football stadium. They have massive screens. It looked like right before Calipari got whacked in the second half, he said, "fu*k you, I don't care if you throw me out. Fu*k you." I was surprised he got the second one out.

The crew before them in the CT/Purdue game didn't have the best night. Solid, but they kicked a few. Calling a game in an environment where there is a 200 foot screen showing replays of BI call seems like a pretty tough gig.

EDIT: Sorry -- this was meant as a response to the Valentine post above, which I neglected to quote.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by kwv001

I would think that for each round of the tournament you would want your best officials working. If someone can be selected to work the second weekend, but not in the second round, doesn't that imply that the best aren't necessarily working the second round?

Or it could mean that someone who worked only a 1st round game had an excellent game.