I just know ....

[Champ188]

that someone made a comment recently about how the SEC's lack of basketball prowess shows every March.

#ThereGoesDuke

[vernon]

Just now, Champ188 said:

that someone made a comment recently about how the SEC's lack of basketball prowess shows every March.

#ThereGoesDuke

You will relate well to the following inflammatory comment I'm sure.  While I know fans of both North Carolina and Duke watched a different game entirely I thought that Arkansas got totally jobbed and that South Carolina won despite some of the most lopsided officiating I've ever seen.  How Jefferson didn't get T'd up is mind boggling unless it was diminished somehow by all of the other constant whining that also went unnoticed.

As for you guys, Ray Charles would've blown the whistle twice on that ridiculous carnage at the end which means he would have missed at least one foul or the travel.

As for us, I'm just beyond grateful to still be alive and kicking for one more game cause we just ain't that good.  Of course since we weren't the best team in either 88' or 08' that gives us reason to keep fingers and toes crossed I guess.  

That, plus the fact that we too always get all the calls!

[Champ188]

I strive to not be a ref basher and usually try to weigh my complaints with other objective eyes where Arkansas is concerned, but we just flat-out got hosed yesterday. And that resonates with others like yourself, i.e. not Arkansas fans. Sadly, tradition --- in this case, North Carolina --- seems to live a charmed life in NCAA sports.

One forum member who is beyond knowledgable when it comes to college sports said yesterday that this entire tournament has suffered from poor officiating.

I do know from being a sportswriter that tournament games are often called looser simply because they are playing multiple games at each site and need to stay on schedule. No problem there, but call it consistent from start to finish and most of all, call it consistent on both ends of the floor.

North Carolina is definitely the physically superior team to Arkansas, but our kids left every ounce of blood, sweat and tears they had on the floor yesterday. It's just a shame that they perhaps played well enough to upset the better team but came up short because of some questionable officiating.

Oh yeah, for the rest of tournament, Rock Chalk! And no, I didn't fill out a bracket. Just admire Bill Self and would like nothing more for him and Coach Crook (Calipari) to meet up. My SEC loyalty goes on the shelf where that guy is concerned.

[abkeenan]

Last week a guy here whizzed in someones Cheerios. This week we have someone probably crying in his Cheerios this morning in Kansas while stroking some elaztech for comfort.

[Quillback]

It's been a fun tourney for sure, 2 number one seeds out already, and I think Gonzaga looks shaky (I'm pulling for the Zags BTW).

As far as the Hogs, I agree they got hosed as far as fouls, but they didn't help themselves by missing the free throws they had.  They didn't score in the last 3 minutes, and I got a bit frustrated in that they just had a guard out there dribbling as the shot clock wound down and they end up taking desperation shots.  Can't start out down 17 either against a team like NC. 

[huntest]

Imho, when you get past the aw shucks, gosh darn, golly gee good ol boy persona, Roy Williams has amassed more power and influence with the NCAA, officials, media, press, compliance and enforcement, scheduling, etc etc than any other individual in college sports. 

As a lifelong Jayhawk I saw this uncanny talent benefit KU. I also saw him nearly destroy the non basketball part of the athletic program.

Before you throw rocks at me, take a look at the academic scandal at NC that was squashed and ignored 2 years ago. The man is clever.

[eyedabassman]

Go Badgers! On Wisconsin!

[vernon]

1 hour ago, Champ188 said:

I strive to not be a ref basher and usually try to weigh my complaints with other objective eyes where Arkansas is concerned, but we just flat-out got hosed yesterday. And that resonates with others like yourself, i.e. not Arkansas fans. Sadly, tradition --- in this case, North Carolina --- seems to live a charmed life in NCAA sports.

One forum member who is beyond knowledgable when it comes to college sports said yesterday that this entire tournament has suffered from poor officiating.

I do know from being a sportswriter that tournament games are often called looser simply because they are playing multiple games at each site and need to stay on schedule. No problem there, but call it consistent from start to finish and most of all, call it consistent on both ends of the floor.

North Carolina is definitely the physically superior team to Arkansas, but our kids left every ounce of blood, sweat and tears they had on the floor yesterday. It's just a shame that they perhaps played well enough to upset the better team but came up short because of some questionable officiating.

Oh yeah, for the rest of tournament, Rock Chalk! And no, I didn't fill out a bracket. Just admire Bill Self and would like nothing more for him and Coach Crook (Calipari) to meet up. My SEC loyalty goes on the shelf where that guy is concerned.

Heck, I had Arkansas losing to Seton Hall and thought that SH got hosed on the intentional foul call at the end of that game so I'm not exactly biased toward Arkansas.  I'm also not a Carolina or Duke hater but, like most "fans" enjoy the upsets - when it doesn't involve my team of course!  The fact of the matter is in this stupid tournament superior talent doesn't mean a whole lot thanks to the ol', "On any given day" scenario but at least be a LITTLE bit consistent with how the games are called.

Towards the end of both the UNC-ARK and DUKE-SC games even our wives were going bonkers about the officiating (and, I must point out, they know about as much about basketball as I do about bass fishing).

I enjoy the tournament because I still love college basketball but I just wish they would call it what it is which is the NCAA Post Season Tournament and NOT the National Championship.

If it's truly a national championship then there's no way that there should be 68 friggin' (one of Roy's favorite terms) involved.  More like six or eight at the most would be how you identify the "best" team in the country not this crazy crap shoot.  The way this deal is set up, the best team hardly ever wins and that ain't how you crown a national champ.  UCLA would have won way fewer even in the Wooden years if they'd had to win SIX games to get it done and travel all over the country to do it.

I get the "March Madness" and all that but it's still nothing more than sports reality TV and the biggest money grab in sports.  If a team can't even win its conference how in the world is it the "National Champion"?

Unfortunately, the same thing's happening in baseball and football and for the same reason - TV money.  Who cares who's best when there's hundreds of millions at stake?

GET OFF MY LAWN!

[vernon]

10 minutes ago, eyedabassman said:

Go Badgers! On Wisconsin!

And thanks for saving my bracket!  

[dtrs5kprs]

The past four days were horrible for officials. 

I've coached, and have a varsity player at home, so I try not to point that finger at refs right off, but it was brutal. Just basic calls missed. The Arkansas deal was embarrassing. The Northwestern play.

The SC vs Duke deal was bad both ways. Officials let that game get out of control, and clearly declared open season on Allen. A foul at one end, wasn't at the other, and a flurry of 1st half offensive fouls disappeared in the second half. Inconsistency makes it really hard as a coach to tell your kids how to adjust. Doesn't matter if it's called tight or loose, as long as it doesn't change. 

Simple fact is, these are 50+ year old guys trying to keep up with some of the best athletes on the planet. Think it is past time to add a 4th official.

Oh well. We're out of banner space anyway ?. Unless we can rent a corner in Columbia or Lawrence to outsource our championship banner storage.