Reffing

[downtown85]

I read somewhere that the memo went out to tell all refs to call tight games or they won't be reffing later on in the tournament. 

Aleady watching Memphis-CSUN and Butler-LSU game, the zebras are calling EVERYTHING!  It won't be the big east style reffing.

[New Era Warriors]

can you share where you read that? because that would be a ridiculous memo...

[Marquette_g]

I wish I had heard that ahead of time.  I might have bounced Pitt earlier.  Of any team, I think they depend on a game being called loosely in order for them to be successful. 

I will be curious to watch how many times the Blair shoulder dip gets called.

[Mobot]

Officiating

[downtown85]

can you share where you read that? because that would be a ridiculous memo...

I don't have the memo only a post on a message board which seems legit.  See below. 

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=415&f=2850&t=4096537

The 96 refs for the first round have been notified and assigned to their sites.  Each region will have only a 12-man crew, as in recent years.  In other words, the alternate official for each game will come from one of the crew assigned for the other games in the region.

Refs for the subsequent rounds will be drawn exclusively from the 96 -- so don't expect anybody new in the later rounds.  Assignments for subsequent rounds will, this year, take into account performance in the prior rounds.  All assignments are made by a single assignor who has put considerable emphasis this year on matching officials with conferences and teams that they did not see very often this year. 

Expect a number of new faces -- the NCAA has made it a point to have merit based advancement and will probably attempt to use this year to emphasize the point by limiting court time for some high profile vets.

Each official for the tournament has been informed that they will be specifically graded for tournament advancement on three points of emphasis that were instituted at the beginning of the year, but which have been diluted during the year.  All three of these points of emphasis have to do with dribbler.

1) If a team sends a forward to defend a high ball screen any body contact with the dribbler that affects his motion or rhythm must be called a foul.

2) If a player puts two hands on a dribbler, it is an automatic foul.  No exceptions.  No analysis of advantage gained.  No consideration for where on the court the foul occurs or time on the clock or shot clock.  No further analysis whether the contact was illegal.  It's by definition illegal.

3) Any illegal contact that causes a dirbbler to be tripped and to lose the ball is an automatic foul.  So if the defender does not have legal guarding position, any contact that cause the dribbler to fall and to lose posession is an absolute foul.

[BrewCity83]

Doesn't sound like the BlairShoulderDip is one of the points of emphasis.

[rocky_warrior]

3) Any illegal contact that causes a dirbbler to be tripped and to lose the ball is an automatic foul.  So if the defender does not have legal guarding position, any contact that cause the dribbler to fall and to lose posession is an absolute foul.

If true - this one may help Wesley *greatly*.  That kid gets tripped a lot when dribbling through screens.

[downtown85]

I've watched bits and pieces from various games today so far and it seems to me that the refs get paid by the whistle.  Lots of calls from little incidental bumps.  Definitely much tighter than the typical Big East game.  I think we should do fine as our guys tend not to foul too much.