Bear Down Wildcats

Background

“Our conference is in the worst condition officiating I’ve ever seen. When people come out and steal basketball games from our young people like that crew did, they deserve to be put in jail and not working basketball games” – Lute Olson, March 6, 1982

Me and Lute, two pees in a pod. Unfortunately neither of us had any statistical base to make the claim, just a gut feeling that what we're watching is far below par.

But then I got really frustrated after the Arizona at Washington game - that was one of the worst reffed games I'd seen. So last week I started looking for stats and found KenPom's referee ratings. He basically rates refs by seeing how often they're reffing the best games in basketball. It's not a perfect system but it makes some sense.

I wanted to see how each conference stacked up so I looked at only conference games. Also, I only included the power six and a single mid major conference for comparison because this isn't my job.

I took KenPom's top 50 refs of each year and accumulated every game they reffed over the last three seasons (season to date to Feb 5th and the previous two years). Then I tallied how many times they refereed each conference - that's the pool. Finally, I tallied the total number of games each conference employed a top 50 ref and produced a percentage of top 50 presence for each conference. That's top ref presence.

It's not an exact measure, not nearly, but could it provide some perspective? See below:



Winners and Losers

Let's start with % share. The ACC and the B1G are the big winners here, each getting about 20% of the pool. The Big XII, Big East, and SEC each clock in the respectable mid-low teens... and then there's the Pac-12. The Pac-12 is in the single digits along with our mid-major for reference conference, the A-10.

Wait... what?

Not that there's anything wrong with the A-10, but as far as I can tell from public resources they make about a third of the revenue as the Pac-12.

Maybe the Pac-12 deserves it - we're the sixth worst conference in basketball, right?

Well let's compare ref rankings against KenPom's conference rankings and see if there are any correlations or curiosities...

The winner here is clearly the B1G, getting the most quality ref presences while performing near the bottom of the conference ranking. On the other hand... the Big XII is getting hosed as the three year best conference in basketball with only the fourth most quality ref presences.

Now I don't know if the KenPom ref rankings are "good" or if there is regional restrictions on refs and how far they travel. Maybe the Big XII aren't getting their due because their arenas aren't near airport hubs (I have no idea if this is true but I do know that Texas Tech is in Lubbock). Maybe the distance between Pac-12 schools and then the further distance between the Pac-12 and other conferences precludes big game refs from working our games. There's a whole basket of stuff that I don't know, and I don't even know how big the basket is.

What I do know is that the Pac-12 has the worst goddamn refs of the power six conferences and Lute Olson is as right as his hair is white.

That quote from Lute says March 1982. He was at Iowa then.

zonagrad wrote:That quote from Lute says March 1982. He was at Iowa then.

Let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater.

Awesome analysis! Are you able to see the rate at which Arizona received these top 50 refs compared to the rates for other Pac12 schools? I'm even more interested in that.

I still can't decide which perversion of officiating was worse: the loss at Washington or the one-point win at home over Utah.

One was more than blatant enough. To follow it up with the other was just so egregious, it was like Larry Scott was saying, "That's right, more of that."

Nice work

PHXCATS wrote:Nice work

Damn right. Thanks, Yo. Ayton's uncalled muggings are wearing me down. This independent out of sample test answers my bias' need for confirmation.

dovecanyoncat wrote:

PHXCATS wrote:Nice work

Damn right. Thanks, Yo. Ayton's uncalled muggings are wearing me down. This independent out of sample test answers my bias' need for confirmation.

He is getting hit and hacked but he needs to not worry about it and stop complaining go the refs. Let the coaches deal with it. Just play your game

YoDeFoe wrote:

zonagrad wrote:That quote from Lute says March 1982. He was at Iowa then.

Let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater.

I wonder how Lute felt about Pac 10 officiating when he joined the conference after bashing Big 10 refs. The Pac has had its share of prima donnas: Booker Turner, Dave Libby, Richie Ballesteros to name a few.

PHXCATS wrote:

dovecanyoncat wrote:

PHXCATS wrote:Nice work

Damn right. Thanks, Yo. Ayton's uncalled muggings are wearing me down. This independent out of sample test answers my bias' need for confirmation.

He is getting hit and hacked but he needs to not worry about it and stop complaining go the refs. Let the coaches deal with it. Just play your game

All our guys, let alone the bigs, complain without hesitation, even Dusan is more vociferous of late. Ayton will get past it as he gets past the freshman wall alluded to in other posts. It's just currently the most glaring aspect of Pac-12 ref culture that burdens U of A fans at this point. We know things will change when the Dance begins, but until then it weighs on our team's conference performance and the remaining games that impact our seeding.

I love Dusan’s seven foot high finger wag at the refs.

The metric I'd like to see measured is foul concentration. For my money, the most frustrating part about Pac reffing is the dead spots where you can basically whip out a billy club and beat Ayton with it and not get whistled.

Then, to balance things out, the refs will start blowing the whistle on every possession. Those abrupt shifts in foul calls are the most frustrating part of Pac reffing. As long as the bad calls are even, I can handle some blown calls. The massive shifting of standards is the part that makes me want to throw things at the floor/tv.

YoDeFoe wrote:I love Dusan’s seven foot high finger wag at the refs.

You a very bad man!!!

Relevant bump for cheerleader ejection. Dumbest thing I've ever seen.

The one burning question I have about our win over the scum is just how in the Holy Hell did Rat Boy not get a T??

What does he have to do....................Yell "He touched the ball??"

dmjcat wrote:The one burning question I have about our win over the scum is just how in the Holy Hell did Rat Boy not get a T??

What does he have to do....................Yell "He touched the ball??"

Spitting. That's what gets you the T

prh wrote:Relevant bump for cheerleader ejection. Dumbest thing I've ever seen.

I was just about to make an entire thread about this.

What in the world could that cheerleader have said to warrant being ejected?

It was nice to have a game where the players determined the outcome, not the refs.

Hurley thinks this was a game of strip poker, and he was losing. I thought for a minute he was going to take off his shirt while screaming like a 4 year old. What a mental case. Reminds me of what's-his-face on the current Duke team throwing a tantrum. Next game Hurley may get called for tripping too.

What's with the Mick Jagger hands on the hips pose?

He's trying to get his wee wee on an album cover in suit pants that don't fit right

from suck to blow

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... throw-line" target="_blank

Ejected for yelling into his megaphone?????

And the curtain of distraction is OK???

My God, PAC12 refs are the biggest joke in college basketball.

dmjcat wrote:http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... throw-line

Ejected for yelling into his megaphone?????

And the curtain of distraction is OK???

My God, PAC12 refs are the biggest joke in college basketball.

Yeah but, they don't use a megaphone, they just pump it out of there ass

I will credit the refs for not giving Baby Hurley a T. Cause fuck him and how bad he wanted to make it about that.

You gotta admit it's sort of strange with the constant tirades Hurley was giving the refs throughout the game they picked on a lowly Cheerleader yelling through a megaphone.

EastCoastCat wrote:You gotta admit it's sort of strange with the constant tirades Hurley was giving the refs throughout the game they picked on a lowly Cheerleader yelling through a megaphone.

He also used no profanity, and the ref said he was yelling players names. Odd.

EastCoastCat wrote:You gotta admit it's sort of strange with the constant tirades Hurley was giving the refs throughout the game they picked on a lowly Cheerleader yelling through a megaphone.

I heard he was given a warning. Not a huge deal what he did but it is the rule for Cheerleaders so he has g9 follow or not be on the court

I wonder what Hurley said to get the bench warning. Dusan was the one that called it to the attention of the refs, and pointed out what Hurley was doing. Was wondering if i ws the on;y one to see that

PieceOfMeat wrote:

prh wrote:Relevant bump for cheerleader ejection. Dumbest thing I've ever seen.

I was just about to make an entire thread about this.

What in the world could that cheerleader have said to warrant being ejected?

Instant legend status for the cheerleader

If he would have said "Fuck ASU" then I would have given him legend status...

dmjcat wrote:http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... throw-line

Ejected for yelling into his megaphone?????

And the curtain of distraction is OK???

My God, PAC12 refs are the biggest joke in college basketball.

I've been on that floor and heard far worse from ASU cheerleaders.

But yeah...

EastCoastCat wrote:If he would have said "Fuck ASU" then I would have given him legend status...

A Cheerleader got ejected from a game. If you can tell me the last time that has happened then you may have a point, but since i can't recall it ever happening. Legend status...it's even a story on the front page of ESPN

30-20 run post-ejection.

He should be on the next intro video with the last "We are Arizona"...

dmjcat wrote:http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... throw-line

Ejected for yelling into his megaphone?????

And the curtain of distraction is OK???

My God, PAC12 refs are the biggest joke in college basketball.

Biggest joke for years.

longtime Pac-12 official Randy McCall.

longtime pac12 official. I wonder, in this joke-of-a-ref's career, how many cheerleaders he's tossed for saying "not today [player's first name]" during a break in play such as waiting for the player to be given the ball to shoot a free throw.

the cheerleader didn't do this during game action, it was during a break in play.

Oh and is anyone surprised at the person siding with the joke-of-a-ref?

PHXCATS wrote: I heard he was given a warning. Not a huge deal what he did but it is the rule for Cheerleaders so he has g9 follow or not be on the court

yeah, that's totally in character for machina. I bet machina even clapped whole-heartedly when our cheerleader was ejected for, as the official states "He was yelling, using the [megaphone] to call out people by name, which is not acceptable,"

Good job, machina, pac12 refs always need a lackey.

PieceOfMeat wrote:
Good job, machina, pac12 refs always need a lackey.

I heard ASU cheerleaders telling Damon specific things about his anatomy and what he liked to do to others with similar anatomy in 1994. Through a megaphone. At the line.

Even I was shocked that time. And I don't shock easy.

EVCat wrote: I heard ASU cheerleaders telling Damon specific things about his anatomy and what he liked to do to others with similar anatomy in 1994. Through a megaphone. At the line.

Even I was shocked that time. And I don't shock easy.

Yeah, definitely comparable to : "Not today Remy"

PieceOfMeat wrote:

dmjcat wrote:http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... throw-line

Ejected for yelling into his megaphone?????

And the curtain of distraction is OK???

My God, PAC12 refs are the biggest joke in college basketball.

Biggest joke for years.

longtime Pac-12 official Randy McCall.

longtime pac12 official. I wonder, in this joke-of-a-ref's career, how many cheerleaders he's tossed for saying "not today [player's first name]" during a break in play such as waiting for the player to be given the ball to shoot a free throw.

the cheerleader didn't do this during game action, it was during a break in play.

Oh and is anyone surprised at the person siding with the joke-of-a-ref?

PHXCATS wrote: I heard he was given a warning. Not a huge deal what he did but it is the rule for Cheerleaders so he has g9 follow or not be on the court

yeah, that's totally in character for machina. I bet machina even clapped whole-heartedly when our cheerleader was ejected for, as the official states "He was yelling, using the [megaphone] to call out people by name, which is not acceptable,"

Good job, machina, pac12 refs always need a lackey.

It helped UA so it was a good thing and yeah follow the rules if you are on the court. Not hard.

EVCat wrote:

PieceOfMeat wrote:
Good job, machina, pac12 refs always need a lackey.

I heard ASU cheerleaders telling Damon specific things about his anatomy and what he liked to do to others with similar anatomy in 1994. Through a megaphone. At the line.

Even I was shocked that time. And I don't shock easy.

They should have been ejected at the time clearly.

PHXCATS wrote:It helped UA do it was a good thing and yeah follow the rules if you are on the court. Not hard.

Seems he was following the rules. What you actually mean with this statement is: "do what those in power tell you to do. not hard".

Which is totally in line with your character.

PHXCATS wrote:boy

The worst part of the college game is the offensive foul calls. As long as referees continue to fall for the acting and flopping, selling the call is still going to be taught and coached.

Frybry02 wrote:The worst part of the college game is the offensive foul calls. As long as referees continue to fall for the acting and flopping, selling the call is still going to be taught and coached.

I thought we were in for a good reffed game when they didn't fall for two early Duke flops...

Hurley was berating the official who just kept saying "calm down" then explained why Hurley was full of shit.

It seemed to be a good sign. Then an official runs in from Fountain Hills to call a 3rd foul on a charge on PJC, with a befuddled ref standing right there, 3 feet from the scene, and I gave up hope of the elusive "well-officiated game in the PAC".

PHXCATS wrote:

EastCoastCat wrote:You gotta admit it's sort of strange with the constant tirades Hurley was giving the refs throughout the game they picked on a lowly Cheerleader yelling through a megaphone.

I heard he was given a warning. Not a huge deal what he did but it is the rule for Cheerleaders so he has g9 follow or not be on the court

I think it's more about the ref having rabbit ears and the constant little man syndrome Pac refs have in needing to flex on people to make them respect their authority.

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

PHXCATS wrote:

EastCoastCat wrote:You gotta admit it's sort of strange with the constant tirades Hurley was giving the refs throughout the game they picked on a lowly Cheerleader yelling through a megaphone.

I heard he was given a warning. Not a huge deal what he did but it is the rule for Cheerleaders so he has g9 follow or not be on the court

I think it's more about the ref having rabbit ears and the constant little man syndrome Pac refs have in needing to flex on people to make them respect their authority.

Perhaps. Maybe even very likely. But it still is a rule not to call players out in the megaphone and not to use it during free throws and the guy did both although the comment was not bad. If everyone is speeding and you get pulled over by the police, it sucks but you were speeding so you technically deserve it.

PHXCATS wrote:

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

PHXCATS wrote:

EastCoastCat wrote:You gotta admit it's sort of strange with the constant tirades Hurley was giving the refs throughout the game they picked on a lowly Cheerleader yelling through a megaphone.

I heard he was given a warning. Not a huge deal what he did but it is the rule for Cheerleaders so he has g9 follow or not be on the court

I think it's more about the ref having rabbit ears and the constant little man syndrome Pac refs have in needing to flex on people to make them respect their authority.

Perhaps. Maybe even very likely. But it still is a rule not to call players out in the megaphone and not to use it during free throws and the guy did both although the comment was not bad. If everyone is speeding and you get pulled over by the police, it sucks but you were speeding so you technically deserve it.

Comparing Pac refs to a cop who pulls over one guy going 68 in a 65 despite a line of cars doing the same speed is actually a perfect comparison.

EVCat wrote:

Frybry02 wrote:The worst part of the college game is the offensive foul calls. As long as referees continue to fall for the acting and flopping, selling the call is still going to be taught and coached.

I thought we were in for a good reffed game when they didn't fall for two early Duke flops...

Hurley was berating the official who just kept saying "calm down" then explained why Hurley was full of shit.

It seemed to be a good sign. Then an official runs in from Fountain Hills to call a 3rd foul on a charge on PJC, with a befuddled ref standing right there, 3 feet from the scene, and I gave up hope of the elusive "well-officiated game in the PAC".

The offensive foul on Ayton against holder was a travesty. holder went in like a timid little bitch and was Not interested in defending whatsoever. He was going to flop no matter what happened.

My favorite is always how PJC seems to bull over everyone.

Can we get tonight's refs the rest of the way?