College Hoop Refs - Good & Bad?

[muwarrior97]

Saw the Karl Hess news tonight and got to thinking about the refs we see doing Marquette games, has scoop ever had a poll on this?

What is the thoughts on the refs you want to see walking out for the tip vs. the ones you see that make you want a ticket refund?

Found this list on google, surprised to see Pat TT Driscoll on the best list since I hear/see a lot of negative comments about his whistle/style:

http://colinwilliamweaver.com/2014/01/22/the-10-worst-referees-in-ncaa-mens-division-i-basketball-as-well-as-the-best/

[pbiflyer]

Many years ago, started talking to a guy in an airport bar,  Turn out he was one of the refs that reffed the Marquette-ND game my freshman year, when Rivers hit the game winner.
We won that game, he bought me a beer in the airport, so he is a ref that is pretty good. 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

My general rule of thumb is that if I know the refs name they are usually terrible. For example, Ed Hightower, Jim Burr and Karl Hess.

Burr is so bad the man needs to go.

[chapman]

Driscoll must have been bullied as a child, since he needs to call unnecessary T's every game to feel better about himself. 

Burr is just a cranky old man who won't let it go after a decade of awfulness.

[Texas Western]

The refs are the same for both teams. I don't worry about them. Even when they suck it usually evens out.

[JWags85]

Burr is just a cranky old man who won't let it go after a decade of awfulness.

Yet somehow gets praised every game by the announcers.  Its ridiculous.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

The refs are the same for both teams. I don't worry about them. Even when they suck it usually evens out.

This

[brewcity77]

The refs are the same for both teams. I don't worry about them. Even when they suck it usually evens out.

While there is definitely truth to this (the Providence game was awful on both sides) shouldn't the hope be not for bad calls to even out but for good calls that don't need to be evened out? I think ChitownJuan makes a great point. If you know a ref's name, it's probably because he's not very good at his job.

EDIT: Though a far better indicator is when my wife knows a referee's name. Was at a Marquette game and she texted me from home asking "Is that Jim Burr? I thought he retired!"

[bilsu]

In the Providence game the same ref called the rebound that went out of bounds against us incorrectly twice. The second one got overturned, since it could be reviewed. The first one was worse. We had a perfect view from our seats. He was on the opposite side of the play, so his view was not as good. I have notice, since I often tape and re watch home games that were you sit greatly effects what you can see. Therefore, the more calls a ref makes the more likely he will be perceived as a bad ref. Sometimes you can see what he sees, sometimes you cannot see what he sees, and sometimes he cannot see what you see. It does seem to me that majority of calls are made by one ref in the three man crewand I am not sure that is a good thing. As far as technicals, I  would think the coaches know who has a short fuse. I think, if I was a ref I would have a short fuse. I see no reason to put up with players or coaches who are acting like jerks.

[barfolomew]

The refs are the same for both teams. I don't worry about them. Even when they suck it usually evens out.

I disagree.
A bad referee makes the game less enjoyable for all fans of basketball. Just because bad calls happen to both teams doesn't excuse them.

[WarhawkWarrior]

Refs should be nameless.  The worst ones try to make the game about themselves.
Demonstrative actions, arguing with coaches, showman antics describe the worst of them.  

[WarhawkWarrior]

I especially hate those that try to befriend the coaches before the game and then tee them up the first chance they get. 

[Mods, Delete me please. 8/26/2020]

Driscoll may have the thinnest skin of any ref I have ever seen.   Pays more attention to the crowd than he does the game.   What a baby.   

[Dr. Blackheart]

The refs are the same for both teams. I don't worry about them. Even when they suck it usually evens out.

To me, that is like saying that the coaches are the same for both teams, so don't worry about them. The refs are in fact a part of the game and their work should be analyzed and questioned. Every coach tries to influence them and they do.

As a fan during the UW game, I was completely pissed with Bo's questioning of every call...but he got an incredible three calls reversed. Bo was right every frickin time after review. With UW averaging 1.19 poimts per possession and MU averaging 1.06 PPP, those three reversals earned Bo 6.75 points. I will remind folks it was a six point game with 50 seconds to go. I think refs really do matter as well as Bo's coaching.

[Nukem2]

Driscoll may have the thinnest skin of any ref I have ever seen.   Pays more attention to the crowd than he does the game.   What a baby.   

Hate to see the guy.  Was at a couple MU home games this season and he was ok for a change.

[Atticus]

First ref I knew by name was one from the late 90's. His name was Dick Paparo. Back when the Cameron Crazies were actually funny, they would chant, "you suck, Dick" after making a bad call. Coach K would then make the rat face at the students until his head looked like it was going to explode. After the next bad call, the students would chant, "you suck, Richard."

[tower912]

Ted Valentine making himself the show during the Buckeye/Hoosier game.

[Brewtown Andy]

James Breeding is a technical foul issuing machine.

[WarhawkWarrior]

I disagree with Dr. B.  I don't fault the coaches for working the refs.  But I don't agree the refs need to work the coaches.  The game is compromised when they are viewed as independent drones.  Far too many games are being decided by showing their reaction and enticing coaches into a fray.