The Rooferee

[Wildcat Sheli]

Everyone freaks out about the UNC game but I thought the Wisconsin game in 2015 was way more frustrating . . . Why aren't folks angrier about that game?...

I think it’s because 2017 vs. UNC was the straw that broke the camel’s back. What we had been complaining about since 2011 UConn and 2015 Wisconsin (and even 2005 vs. Michigan St.) was on full display for the world to see. After those games, fans were told to be quiet and quit whining because we had our chances. And we did. But that didn’t take away the fact that there were terrible, game-changing calls in those games. But vs. UNC, media personalities were finally on our side, loudly voicing what they saw with their own eyes. It was too obvious to ignore. The overwhelming tide of support for UK fans took some unfortunate twists and in just a couple of days, the bad or no calls were no longer the story, but the behavior of a few. Then for Higgins to be given the 2017 Official of the Year award just added insult to injury.

I think the uproar over 2017 was largely due to the pent up feelings over the past, especially 2015, with fans vowing this would never happen again after 2005, 2011, 2015 and then 2017.

The Wisconsin game did something to me as a fan. It was the worst loss for me. It’s still hard to think about after that unforgettable season. The loss never should have happened, but it’s not surprising considering who was on the whistle.

 

[ruppcat]

I think it’s because 2017 vs. UNC was the straw that broke the camel’s back. What we had been complaining about since 2011 UConn and 2015 Wisconsin (and even 2005 vs. Michigan St.) was on full display for the world to see. After those games, fans were told to be quiet and quit whining because we had our chances. And we did. But that didn’t take away the fact that there were terrible, game-changing calls in those games. But vs. UNC, media personalities were finally on our side, loudly voicing what they saw with their own eyes. It was too obvious to ignore. The overwhelming tide of support for UK fans took some unfortunate twists and in just a couple of days, the bad or no calls were no longer the story, but the behavior of a few. Then for Higgins to be given the 2017 Official of the Year award just added insult to injury.

I think the uproar over 2017 was largely due to the pent up feelings over the past, especially 2015, with fans vowing this would never happen again after 2005, 2011, 2015 and then 2017.

The Wisconsin game did something to me as a fan. It was the worst loss for me. It’s still hard to think about after that unforgettable season. The loss never should have happened, but it’s not surprising considering who was on the whistle.

The '84 loss to Georgetown still stings for me.

 

[JPScott]

I think it’s because 2017 vs. UNC was the straw that broke the camel’s back. What we had been complaining about since 2011 UConn and 2015 Wisconsin (and even 2005 vs. Michigan St.) was on full display for the world to see. After those games, fans were told to be quiet and quit whining because we had our chances. And we did. But that didn’t take away the fact that there were terrible, game-changing calls in those games. But vs. UNC, media personalities were finally on our side, loudly voicing what they saw with their own eyes. It was too obvious to ignore. The overwhelming tide of support for UK fans took some unfortunate twists and in just a couple of days, the bad or no calls were no longer the story, but the behavior of a few. Then for Higgins to be given the 2017 Official of the Year award just added insult to injury.

I think the uproar over 2017 was largely due to the pent up feelings over the past, especially 2015, with fans vowing this would never happen again after 2005, 2011, 2015 and then 2017.

The Wisconsin game did something to me as a fan. It was the worst loss for me. It’s still hard to think about after that unforgettable season. The loss never should have happened, but it’s not surprising considering who was on the whistle.

Good post. Not only that but this obvious take-down by Higgins in the UK-UNC game is illustrative that college basketball is under siege by gamblers and other unscrupulous types and the game is suffering for it.

Leave it unchecked and the game will eventually implode in corruption. People like dreoay are at best blissfully ignorant of what's happening right before his eyes or at worst part of the problem.

It's true that many in the media (including many who aren't UK fans by any stretch) called out Higgins for his terrible and one-sided calls during the game, and that was good to see. But plenty of others in the media still take up for Higgins and the basketball bureacracy that supports them, by trying to claim it's just fans being unrealistic etc.

As far as I'm concerned if they can't govern their own, then they need to step aside. The NBA went through the whole Tim Donaghy scandal and (although IMO they could have done more) took measures to clean house and are better for it. College basketball officiating is long overdue for a house cleaning.

 

[YouKay]

Check out the Cornell game in 2010. Holy crap some of the worst calls and non calls I've ever seen. He was like Leslie Nielsen in the Naked Gun trying to drag Cornell back into the game.

Oh man. I was at that game. Didn't know who Higgins was then but I was screaming at him all night. Cornell had this big white dude who they actually thought could play with DeMarcus Cousins. He was draped on Cousins all night and I think only got 2 fouls.

 

[dreoay]

You think the first half and 2nd half were the same in the unc game...Kennedy Meeks should have been fouled out in 5 minutes

Team Fouls 1st Half
Kentucky 10
North Carolina 10

What I find interesting is despite the UK roster being filled with NBA quality big men, the Cats were outrebounded by Wisconsin and UNC 78 to 56 in those games. Who knew John Higgins would be such a great rebounder?

 

[Greatestalltime]

Team Fouls 1st Half
Kentucky 10
North Carolina 10

What I find interesting is despite the UK roster being filled with NBA quality big men, the Cats were outrebounded by Wisconsin and UNC 78 to 56 in those games. Who knew John Higgins would be such a great rebounder?

4 of those calls, at minimum, were indisputably terrible calls on UofK. (See Bam over the back on fat Meeks as one)
Several weren’t called on Unc (see Fox getting absolutely mauled by two players—in the face and head)

Foul call counts only fool people that don’t watch sports.

No excuse for not rebounding better. There is an excuse for continually missing very obvious calls.

Its called bias —like Wisconsin shot clock and going out of bounds and being the first to touch the ball. Those aren’t judgement calls nor are they complicated or hard to recognize.

People like you like to use the loaded term “conspiracy” because of the negative connotations that go along with it.

I prefer bias. And humans have bias and it’s on full display with Higgins.

Defend his loose ball foul on Willis in the Unc game when he ran from the other end of the court through of crowed of players and refs and made a laughingly poor call.

No way and honest person makes that mistake.

 

[Lumpy 2]

Team Fouls 1st Half
Kentucky 10
North Carolina 10

What I find interesting is despite the UK roster being filled with NBA quality big men, the Cats were outrebounded by Wisconsin and UNC 78 to 56 in those games. Who knew John Higgins would be such a great rebounder?

By using the number of fouls called on each team as an example of fair officiating, you have proved you know absolutely nothing about basketball.

 

[YouKay]

Team Fouls 1st Half
Kentucky 10
North Carolina 10

What I find interesting is despite the UK roster being filled with NBA quality big men, the Cats were outrebounded by Wisconsin and UNC 78 to 56 in those games. Who knew John Higgins would be such a great rebounder?

Fouls *actually* committed:

UNC 15
UK 7

UK had three of its five starters in that game finish with 4 fouls. UNC had only 2 players with as many as 3.

De'Aaron Fox played only 28 minutes in that game because of foul trouble. He ATTEMPTED only TWO free throws in the game. In the previous game against UCLA, going up against Lonzo Ball, he played 36 minutes, had only 2 fouls, and attempted 15 free throws, making 13 of them.

Higgins knew who he needed to get out of the game, and he did.

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

Higgens is a Kansas guy, as far as I’m aware of, who at best has a bias against UK. The Jailbirds have always been the blue blood little brother. For as many Final Fours or Championship Games they've been to they only have three titles. Cheated for a lot of those too.

 

[JPScott]

By using the number of fouls called on each team as an example of fair officiating, you have proved you know absolutely nothing about basketball.

Always found it interesting that many in the media make the correct point that simply looking at foul totals doesn’t always imply the game was called fairly or correctly.

Yet in the case of this game, they do exactly what they accuse fans of doing when they point to foul totals as if it’s proof that Higgins called a fair game.

Sorry but he didn’t. Not only were a number of poor fouls called on UK while a number of clear fouls by UNC were not called, but the poor calls went largely against UK’s starters/star players which forced them to sit out long stretches of the half.

 

[dreoay]

Maybe we can do a film study on every second of both games to determine how many bad calls were made against Wisconsin and UNC too.

 

[YouKay]

Maybe we can do a film study on every second of both games to determine how many bad calls were made against Wisconsin and UNC too.

Wisconsin board is that way =========>

 

[JPScott]

Maybe we can do a film study on every second of both games to determine how many bad calls were made against Wisconsin and UNC too.

Good idea. There should be.

 

[OMGHAWK]

Interesting commentary to say the least in this thread...But FWIW, Higgins is not a KU guy...he is disliked pretty much wherever he refs including at Allen Field house...He tends to be more about his show than quality officiating..

 

[ruppcat]

Fouls *actually* committed:

UNC 15
UK 7

UK had three of its five starters in that game finish with 4 fouls. UNC had only 2 players with as many as 3.

De'Aaron Fox played only 28 minutes in that game because of foul trouble. He ATTEMPTED only TWO free throws in the game. In the previous game against UCLA, going up against Lonzo Ball, he played 36 minutes, had only 2 fouls, and attempted 15 free throws, making 13 of them.

Higgins knew who he needed to get out of the game, and he did.

That's the key statistic....who was the foul called on and when.

 

[YouKay]

Always found it interesting that many in the media make the correct point that simply looking at foul totals doesn’t always imply the game was called fairly or correctly.

Yet in the case of this game, they do exactly what they accuse fans of doing when they point to foul totals as if it’s proof that Higgins called a fair game.

Sorry but he didn’t. Not only were a number of poor fouls called on UK while a number of clear fouls by UNC were not called, but the poor calls went largely against UK’s starters/star players which forced them to sit out long stretches of the half.

One thing you will notice time and time again if you watch as much basketball as I do: a crooked ref will almost always end a game with the fouls being even. Whether he is out and out favoring one team or just trying to hit the spread. It's WHEN the fouls are called and AGAINST WHOM that matters. It's not unusual at all in the NBA where there are several crooked refs.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

I don't believe in conspiracy theories. But I believe in John Higgins.....

 

[Blueaz]

MSU 2005
UConn 2011
Wisconsin 2015
UNC 2017

just seeing this, makes just shake my head...

 

[Blueaz]

I think it’s because 2017 vs. UNC was the straw that broke the camel’s back. What we had been complaining about since 2011 UConn and 2015 Wisconsin (and even 2005 vs. Michigan St.) was on full display for the world to see. After those games, fans were told to be quiet and quit whining because we had our chances. And we did. But that didn’t take away the fact that there were terrible, game-changing calls in those games. But vs. UNC, media personalities were finally on our side, loudly voicing what they saw with their own eyes. It was too obvious to ignore. The overwhelming tide of support for UK fans took some unfortunate twists and in just a couple of days, the bad or no calls were no longer the story, but the behavior of a few. Then for Higgins to be given the 2017 Official of the Year award just added insult to injury.

I think the uproar over 2017 was largely due to the pent up feelings over the past, especially 2015, with fans vowing this would never happen again after 2005, 2011, 2015 and then 2017.

The Wisconsin game did something to me as a fan. It was the worst loss for me. It’s still hard to think about after that unforgettable season. The loss never should have happened, but it’s not surprising considering who was on the whistle.

I had non UK fans calling me and texting me, immediately after UNC, saying we got screwed. They actually for sorry for me (us/UK fans)

 

[Blueaz]

Always found it interesting that many in the media make the correct point that simply looking at foul totals doesn’t always imply the game was called fairly or correctly.

Yet in the case of this game, they do exactly what they accuse fans of doing when they point to foul totals as if it’s proof that Higgins called a fair game.

Sorry but he didn’t. Not only were a number of poor fouls called on UK while a number of clear fouls by UNC were not called, but the poor calls went largely against UK’s starters/star players which forced them to sit out long stretches of the half.

Jay flips back and forth on this, depending on if it is Duke or another ACC school. I have seen him say both; in the same game...

 

[dreoay]

Since 2012, Wisconsin has a losing record vs power five opponents in games which Higgins officiates. Who do I need to talk to get all those loses expunged from the record books?

 

[irishcat1965]

I have a good friend who is a D1 referee and had a chance recently to chat with him. I told him I had seen him on TV refereeing some games in the tournament. He said that the NCAA had scheduled the rooferee along with him and a third ref to do at least one game in KY for little brother back in the late winter.

The rooferee apparently was going to do the game until his attorney stepped in and told him not to set foot in KY til the lawsuit is settled. Of course with his appeal that could go on for awhile.

Just thought it was interesting.

He may ref a UL game but he will never ref another UK game the rest of his life.

 

[BlasterCat0512]

That's the key statistic....who was the foul called on and when.

This.
Or the fouls that weren’t called. The Fox drive where he was mauled comes to mind. Such ********.