ESPN - should Higgins ref Final 4?

[Global Havok]

I'd say there is a 0% chance we don't see him again at some point.

 

[MarkPftw]

He shouldn't officiate in a grade school basketball game..let alone the freaking Final 4 or any Tournament game.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Hope you're right. If I ever see him again, that's too soon.

Also wasn't just from this one game; it's UCONN 11, it's Wisconsin 15, There is a history of this punk that finally pushed a group of crazy people over the edge.

 

[Cardsstink]

Also wasn't just from this one game; it's UCONN 11, it's Wisconsin 15, There is a history of this punk that finally pushed a group of crazy people over the edge.

Agree. I said yesterday that in my opinion he's cost us no less than 1 and maybe 3 titles.

 

[Cat78Scot]

Wilbon is worse than Higgins. Hate that guy so much.

You can't possibly be serious. Higgins is pretty much responsible for three UK tourney exits when we had a chance to win the title, one of which was a chance to go undefeated.

I'm a rational human being that just happens to be a fan. I know what I saw during those three games and it wasn't the usual 'ref misses calls in every game' and 'it all evens out in the end'.

Each game had momentum swinging, game changing calls that defied logic only confirmed by the obvious existence of video replays. If you look at time and situation in all three games, Higgins is clearly guilty of biased and, I would say criminal, refereeing decisions against UK.

I don't care how many people tell me different, I know what I saw and I'm not stupid. No-one should be threatening lives but this guy also shouldn't step on the same court as UK from now on.

Its quite understandable that the most passionate fan base in college basketball would speak up considering the voluminous amount of evidence that we've all witnessed. Some are going to go too far, most just want fairness and accountability. A level playing field.

When you have a school with 20 years of academic fraud not only gifted the last two years of tourney appearances but actually handed an automatic pass to this years final four and probably title by a crooked ref, its time to speak up isn't it?

But no, lets not look at the evidence on hand, lets just brand them there Kentucky folk crazy hillbillies that have unrealistic expectations (fairness and accountability actually) and can't lose gracefully. (robbed of at least three fair chances)

Not railing at you specifically BlueWorld, just venting on this injustice and how tainted this all is.

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

Is there a source that would show the record of the teams he has reffed? Would love to know who does really well when he does their games.

Over at the Higgins Missed Calls Thread, we've got some stats from the NCAA Tournament since 2011 with teams ref'ed multiple times in those years. I do know he calls a lot of Big 12 games. Might want to check WVU stat sites.

 

[UKCatNnc]

Just saw the subject discussed on PTI. Couldn't hear what was said -ahem- I am at a bar and the sound was off. Wilbon and the other guy discussed it. Saw pics of both Wiggins and Calipari.

Any good lawyer makes a living on establishing reasonable doubt. That spot on ESPN is probably all it will take to get that slime ball removed from the Final 4.

The better question is "should higgins be refereeing again". GO CATS!!

 

[Ben101er]

Wilbon said he was at the Northwestern/Vanderbilt game and Higgins reffed that game and he thought he did "a proposterously bad job" and he yelled at him loud enough that he could hear it. Is this guy just a terrible ref in general? I know some Big 12 teams hate him. I'm starting to think he wants games to be about him more than the players, regardless of who's playing. Wilbon also said UK Leadership, "if there is any" (shot at UK he couldn't resist) should demand that the "IDIOTS" knock it off. Pretty much any sane adult would agree with him.

We have some idiots, but, I am going to have to see the FBI indict a UK fan before I believe that someone called a death threat to Higgins. I still think he claimed it to become the victim, and get some heat off himself from the UK game.

 

[Cardsstink]

We have some idiots, but, I am going to have to see the FBI indict a UK fan before I believe that someone called a death threat to Higgins. I still think he claimed it to become the victim, and get some heat off himself from the UK game.

Very possible. If it's true that he's 55 and married to a 27 year old that proves, to me, that he's a piece of garbage.

 

[slick rick.ksr]

Maybe he's just betting on games or being paid to effect the outcome and he is using the roofing business to run that money through it. Wild conspiracy theory but it's not as wild as his reffing.

Bingo

 

[Ukbrassowtipin]

One thing I've noticed in all of this during and after the game is that wvu fans have been completely on our side about this guy. Generally all big12 fans that care about basketball, except Kansas fans.

 

[Bratkartoffeln]

Just saw the subject discussed on PTI. Couldn't hear what was said -ahem- I am at a bar and the sound was off. Wilbon and the other guy discussed it. Saw pics of both Wiggins and Calipari.

Any good lawyer makes a living on establishing reasonable doubt. That spot on ESPN is probably all it will take to get that slime ball removed from the Final 4.

He probably needs to do some serious "damage control" for the negative impact to his business.

I have always been steadfastly supportive of our referees, but in this case, he and the other two are largely responsible for us losing against UNC. When Fox has to sit out 11 minutes of a first half after being called for that first call--a clear charge that should have gone against UNC--you already have one good reason why you've lost. That first half of refereeing was unequivocally the worst I've seen in a long, long time--maybe ever--and did impact negatively Kentucky's chances of winning.

It's infuriating we should have that kind of crappy effort in a regional final--it does make you think that at least Higgins--with his history of Kentucky games--has something agenda against us. But, I hold all three responsible. We UK fans are collectively very passionate AND very knowledgeable--we know when travels occur. We know when something is a foul. The first half was a clear violation of the tenets of fair play and the tenets of doing your job in a fair and impartial manner.

I do think there is an agenda at work for Higgins personally, given his history with us, and should NEVER be allowed to referee another game. By contrast, Pat Adams, who whistled Humphries for an egregious technical foul at Texas A&M two seasons ago, is normally an outstanding referee who has done tons of UK games anb does not have an agenda against Kentucky. Higgins, for whatever reason, holds a grudge against us. If not before, I'm sure he does now, and that's fine...maybe after this he'll never be assigned to us again and that'll be just fine.

 

[gracetoyou]

Is there a source that would show the record of the teams he has reffed? Would love to know who does really well when he does their games.

Lol....that's what so great about this forum. Someone on here actually will know how & will take the time to find out & report back.

 

[UK’98UK’00]

Well at least he is getting the limelight thrown on him, he's probably a prima dona and basking in it. I wouldn't feel to secure if I were he, not having any idea when some UK fan might just try him on for size.

I think it's pre Madonna

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Says he wants to be anonymous and unknown, but his roofing company is rooferees? Ok.

 

[OSOK]

The NCAA will not have him work any of our games. If he works one of our games and ;a
"Nancy Kerrigan" is used against him, He or his wife could sue the NCAA for millions of dollars.