Does Big 12 officiating hurt our tourney teams?

[FriendofCy]

I've been thinking after the OU / Baylor wrestling, er final on Saturday. I've seen LOTS of very physical play in the Big 12 this year. I've watched more games from other conferences this year than I have in the past, and while the play is physical, it is nothing like what is allowed in the Big 12.

I am concerned that this will hurt our teams in the Big dance. I'm concerned that the first time Courtney backs someone down and they take a flop in front of an SEC officiating crew, it will get called, when it hasn't all year. Courtney gets in foul trouble and OU could be in trouble. The same could go for Sophia or Abi at Baylor or the entire Texas A&M team that plays such a physical defense out front.

Is this a legitimate concern? Has the officiating in the Big 12 this year actually done our teams a disservice as they move into tourney time? Discuss amongst yourselves.

[swok34]

I've always seen a more "let them play" once we get to the offseason and that includes conference tournaments. But perhaps it depends on the officiating crew...they aren't tied to one conference though.

We had some of the "longtimers" in Dallas this week. Scott Yarbrough, Gator Parish, Chuck Gonzales, Scotty Hermann, Clarke Stevens, Dee Kantner, Cameron Inouye

[YCN]

I'm personally of the opinion that it doesn't. I haven't noticed any unusual problems with Big 12 teams getting more fouls in the NCAA's than othewise, I'm inclined to think it's a bit more the other way around.

[bigred]

If you can acccept the fact they are all lousy and unpredictable, then you will sleep better at night when you get a call like Gonzales gave Baylor two years ago.

[BudsBoy]

and I wonder myself. But the bigger question is why is the officiating so bad over all in the Big 12 womens games? Consistantly bad, and from the OU prespective being the home team is a joke. We never seem to have an advantage at home. :OU: :rolleyes:

[sybarite]

While in the hospital, I had only ESPN to watch. So, I watched the Big East men's tournament. But, let me digress.

I have despised the officiating in the Big Twelve in both men's and women's basketball all year. If there is ever a revolution, I may make certain that all of them are stood against the wall. I think the officials in the Baylor-OU final should be buried in an ant hill. BUT,

I could not believe what I was watching when I watched Big East whatever you call that sport. I am reluctant to call it basketball. It was really more like a bar room brawl that was missing only the broken beer bottles, and that was only because nobody tried it. I'm pretty sure that they would not have called a foul if you did cut someone with a broken bottle.

Yet, it the midst of this mayhem, they would suddenly call a foul. I have no idea why, and it made no sense whatsoever. It was like murder was acceptable but littering was a capital offense. In most games, it didn't seem to favor one team or the other all that much, except that I felt sorry for Rutgers. Their opponent did get a little help, but I think they beat Seton Hall anyhow. The officiating, if that is what you want to call it, was a travesty. I think it probably had more to do with an official wanting to take a rest and stop the game than with anything that actually occurred on the court.

So, while I want to put the Big Twelve officials in an ant hill, maybe I won't cover them with syrup. That being said, I think it tends to get us ready for the Big Dance. I don't think they call it as close in the Big Dance. But, they do seem to favor well-known players. I'm pretty sure that Parker, Latta, and augustus will shoot a lot of free throws. Other than that, they tend to let everyone play.

[Jimi]

Big 12 officials are not Big 12 officials. They are WBB officials and work all over the country. In fact several of them, including Brian Enterline and Melissa Barlow work WNBA games. You will see Enterline, Barlow, Gonzales, Yarbrough, and other favorites in the NCAA tourney. Like it or not they are among the most respected officials in the business. They are also among the most dis-respected officials. The last part is in part because of the first. They work a lot of big time games and get noticed more because of it. I am not a fan of EGOline or Yardbird but then they don't think of me at all (and I don't get trusted to officiate big time games). ;)

[35TangoTango]

I think Sybarite has hit upon some things here, and some Urban myths are dispelled.

Myth 1: Women's officials are worse than men's officials. My experiences watching some Big12 men's tournament games tell me that the men's are just as bad - worse in fact. The men's game is totally out of control. They already call so many fouls that the men's games take 30 minutes longer, and they are still out of control. There are good officials and bad officials in both, and you see good calls and bad calls everywhere.

Myth 2: Big 12 Officials are worse than officials in other conferences. Syb has already pointed out that a lot of the officials call multiple conferences. And a look at the B'East conference tells you that the Big 12 is not more physical. Anything goes, over there.

[Scamp]

Calling too many fouls can backfire.

Anybody else remember the Final Four game in which SW Missouri State played? June Courteau and crew called so many fouls that the women's game ran long and--horror--the men's game started late.