Kentucky@ Louisville Officials Report.

[Lighthouse]

1. Karl Hess. 2. Michael Roberts. 3. Roger Ayers.

Missed walks, 7: Palms, 6:

Because of the overtime, my evaluation has to begin with 13:19 left in the first half.

A rivalry game with both teams playing hard defense. I'm already concerned that Mr. Hess will struggle with his up and down. 3 man crews are notorious for hiding officials the game has passed up. This game will be intense and will require total concentration and foot movement at all positions,

Floor coverage was OK, with the exception of several times when Mr Hess was late into position. Lead position was covered well with a few instances when Mr Roberts and Mr Hess didn't hustle. Several times I saw Mr Hess standing still and leaning in for a better view. Mechanics, off-ball coverage and switching were good. As you will see with my concerns, the lack of calling the walk violation remains an issue, with palms close behind. This crew called the entire game and I don't remember a single palm call, with both teams being guilty. Here are the remaining concerns and comments.


Roberts; Good double dribble call on #5 blue.
Roberts, Hess; #32 white on the back and pushing # 41 blue on rebound. No call?
Ayers; Good call on out of bounds after above play.
Roberts; Late with foul called on # 2 blue. Correct call, but late whistle.
Roberts; You're at lead position, #21 white with arm bar and pushing to back of # 44 blue. You are in position to see, but your head is turned away watching the ball across court. The block is your primary.
Roberts; Right in front of you # 0 white received a pass and took 3 steps with ball. That is a walk anywhere on the court. No call?
Roberts, Ayers. Both have clear views of elbow by # 1 white to #3 blue. Elbows were above shoulders of both players and a clear Flagrant 1, and even though unintentional, it should have been called immediately by Mr Roberts who had the best view. Video view should have confirmed proper call.
Hess, Ayers; # 23 white after receiving inbound pass, changed pivot feet before Hess call foul on #12 blue. Also, Hess was in very bad position at lead to call foul, but had plenty of time to get in proper position.
Ayers; You were totally blocked by #0 white and #15 blue from any view of this play. But you called push foul on #15 blue. You clearly didn't see walk by #3 white. Video clearly shows walk happened first.
Hess; #3 white clearly without any contact, faked a foul and went to the floor. I believe this is by rule a flop with a Technical Foul as the Penalty. No Call?
Roberts; #41 blue walked after receiving inbound pass. No call.
Hess; A moving pick has to have contact to be a foul. The MP foul you called on #12 white had very minimal contact if any with #1 blue.
Hess; #12 blue and # 32 white plating very physical in the block. No call?
Roberts; With all the "Hands on contact" in the game, the foul you called on #3 blue was very picky.
Crew; Did you consider a T on #24 white when he slammed the ball down when TO was called?
Roberts; What did you see when you called foul on #2 blue against #25 white? Video showed no contact.
Ayers; Again a very picky foul called on #3 white against #3 blue. Why is this being called now so late in the game???

Summary. If this crew is satisfied with the work today, you are kidding your self. You have to be concerned about the inconsistency with the hands on and in the paint fouls by both teams you ignored, and then began calling them late. .Although Mr Hess called an ok game, his floor coverage was lacking. I suggest you read the rule book again on "Flops" because an obvious one was missed today, along with a Flagrant 1. You went to the monitor on both occasions and still missed them. In both cases, it's not what you think happened, it what exactly happened and what the Rule says about a penalty. I also must add, Mr Ayers seemed to keep out of trouble during the game. Not a great effort by this crew. Crew Grade. C-.

[Roper92391]

Hess; #3 white clearly without any contact, faked a foul and went to the floor. I believe this is by rule a flop with a Technical Foul as the Penalty. No Call?

Is it really?

[catfan]

Seems to me the fake hit and falling to the floor became a T about 30 yrs ago.

NYPD

[UKBoo]

I think this is a fair report. The amount of contact allowed most of the game I thought was excessive, especially for a hostile rivalry game, but it was pretty much allowed on both side. Then, all of a sudden, they made several ticky tack calls (both ways). Ulis should have been called for two automatic fouls. By rule, you are not allowed to put both hands on an offensive player and I watched him do it twice during the replay. Jones could have been called several times as well while being physical during the press. There were several trips and pushes that resulted in offensive players going out of bounds. By rule, that is suppose to be an automatic foul, not an out of bounds.

[kr24]

Great job LH. Just think how bad you would have rated them if you had seen the first 6 minutes. It wasn't any better.

[ukwebfan]

I believe there was one palm call on Drew.

If flops are a technical, Jones could have fouled out since he finished with 3 and had at least 2 flops.

A few non-calls in the first 6+ minutes btw but also a terrific defensive play by AAron to knock the ball off Harrell on the baseline. Fwiw, UL got a few loose balls, a phantom Roberts offensive foul call on Towns when posting up and a Hess block call on Drew that was questionable. Lyles was terrific defensively and got a nice air-ball rebound in traffic.

[rjc]

1. Karl Hess. 2. Michael Roberts. 3. Roger Ayers.

Missed walks, 7: Palms, 6:

Because of the overtime, my evaluation has to begin with 13:19 left in the first half.

A rivalry game with both teams playing hard defense. I'm already concerned that Mr. Hess will struggle with his up and down. 3 man crews are notorious for hiding officials the game has passed up. This game will be intense and will require total concentration and foot movement at all positions,

Floor coverage was OK, with the exception of several times when Mr Hess was late into position. Lead position was covered well with a few instances when Mr Roberts and Mr Hess didn't hustle. Several times I saw Mr Hess standing still and leaning in for a better view. Mechanics, off-ball coverage and switching were good. As you will see with my concerns, the lack of calling the walk violation remains an issue, with palms close behind. This crew called the entire game and I don't remember a single palm call, with both teams being guilty. Here are the remaining concerns and comments.


Roberts; Good double dribble call on #5 blue.
Roberts, Hess; #32 white on the back and pushing # 41 blue on rebound. No call?
Ayers; Good call on out of bounds after above play.
Roberts; Late with foul called on # 2 blue. Correct call, but late whistle.
Roberts; You're at lead position, #21 white with arm bar and pushing to back of # 44 blue. You are in position to see, but your head is turned away watching the ball across court. The block is your primary.
Roberts; Right in front of you # 0 white received a pass and took 3 steps with ball. That is a walk anywhere on the court. No call?
Roberts, Ayers. Both have clear views of elbow by # 1 white to #3 blue. Elbows were above shoulders of both players and a clear Flagrant 1, and even though unintentional, it should have been called immediately by Mr Roberts who had the best view. Video view should have confirmed proper call.
Hess, Ayers; # 23 white after receiving inbound pass, changed pivot feet before Hess call foul on #12 blue. Also, Hess was in very bad position at lead to call foul, but had plenty of time to get in proper position.
Ayers; You were totally blocked by #0 white and #15 blue from any view of this play. But you called push foul on #15 blue. You clearly didn't see walk by #3 white. Video clearly shows walk happened first.
Hess; #3 white clearly without any contact, faked a foul and went to the floor. I believe this is by rule a flop with a Technical Foul as the Penalty. No Call?
Roberts; #41 blue walked after receiving inbound pass. No call.
Hess; A moving pick has to have contact to be a foul. The MP foul you called on #12 white had very minimal contact if any with #1 blue.
Hess; #12 blue and # 32 white plating very physical in the block. No call?
Roberts; With all the "Hands on contact" in the game, the foul you called on #3 blue was very picky.
Crew; Did you consider a T on #24 white when he slammed the ball down when TO was called?
Roberts; What did you see when you called foul on #2 blue against #25 white? Video showed no contact.
Ayers; Again a very picky foul called on #3 white against #3 blue. Why is this being called now so late in the game???

Summary. If this crew is satisfied with the work today, you are kidding your self. You have to be concerned about the inconsistency with the hands on and in the paint fouls by both teams you ignored, and then began calling them late. .Although Mr Hess called an ok game, his floor coverage was lacking. I suggest you read the rule book again on "Flops" because an obvious one was missed today, along with a Flagrant 1. You went to the monitor on both occasions and still missed them. In both cases, it's not what you think happened, it what exactly happened and what the Rule says about a penalty. I also must add, Mr Ayers seemed to keep out of trouble during the game. Not a great effort by this crew. Crew Grade. C-.

Ur much more generous than me lighthouse lol. Louisville fouled way more than UK, but UK got called for breathing wrong. This crew needs to be repremanded and possibly investigated. All in all I was disgused how this game was called. It made UK look like a dirty team.

[KevinHall]

Thanks LH. I have never seen a technical called on a flop. It one ever deserved a T it was that one Saturday. Like I said in another thread if I were any of these refs I would be gunning for Jones the rest of the season. He tried to make a fool of them and I would call any touch he had the rest of the season.
It was a horrible officiated game from both ends. Way too much inconsistency. Two of UK's big games this December were horribly officiated. This game and the Texas game. It's a real shame to the whole profession of officials when this happens in big games like these two.

[Lighthouse]

Thanks LH. I have never seen a technical called on a flop. It one ever deserved a T it was that one Saturday. Like I said in another thread if I were any of these refs I would be gunning for Jones the rest of the season. He tried to make a fool of them and I would call any touch he had the rest of the season.
It was a horrible officiated game from both ends. Way too much inconsistency. Two of UK's big games this December were horribly officiated. This game and the Texas game. It's a real shame to the whole profession of officials when this happens in big games like these two.

Officials are much to professional to do this, but Jones had better not do it again. I actually called 2 T's for flopping in my career, but it seems in today's atmosphere they just ignore it, and that's why coaches teach it because sometimes it works. All it would take is for one official to stand up and call the T and then others would realize they survived and the rule would be enforced. Mr Hess was looking straight at Jones and he knew it was a fake, but decided to ignore it.

[Wonderstruck]

I'm amazed that coaches would actually encourage flopping. I guess if you can gain an edge you have to do it, but what was Jones thinking on that play? The funny response is to say he wasn't, but really, what could d have been going on in his head to make him do that?

[DA#23]

I have a hard time in separating flopping from other methods of "skirting the rules" and getting away with more than is allowed, such as all of the contact on defense or doing things when one knows the ref's line of sight is blocked.

Two hands on the offensive player, for instance.

Pitino's always coached that not every foul can be called so play physical defense. Other coaches have since followed suit. The only thing that would really get me is if one of our guys did something to intentionally hurt another player, such as trying to sneak in a punch or rabbit punch, etc.

[catfaninin]

Officials are much to professional to do this, but Jones had better not do it again. I actually called 2 T's for flopping in my career, but it seems in today's atmosphere they just ignore it, and that's why coaches teach it because sometimes it works. All it would take is for one official to stand up and call the T and then others would realize they survived and the rule would be enforced. Mr Hess was looking straight at Jones and he knew it was a fake, but decided to ignore it.

Do officials have a pregame meeting to discuss things that are likely to happen in a game / things they might focus on during the game? And would something like flopping be something that might be discussed prior?

The maddening part to me about Saturday was that even after looking at it on the monitor where anyone could have clearly saw what happened they still failed to make the right call.

[Lighthouse]

Do officials have a pregame meeting to discuss things that are likely to happen in a game / things they might focus on during the game? And would something like flopping be something that might be discussed prior?

The maddening part to me about Saturday was that even after looking at it on the monitor where anyone could have clearly saw what happened they still failed to make the right call.

Prior to each game the Referee is in charge of the pre-game meeting. They will discuss floor coverage, when and how to switch, and other things that pertain to every game. Then they will discuss what type game they might expect. Like will there be a press, do these teams run or are they half court teams. Every official is aware of the "flop" rule, but I've never heard it discussed in a pre-game. It just might be now.

[kynut]

Lighthouse - I have been wracking my memory and I cannot remember ever seeing a technical foul called for flopping in a college game. Do you know of any instance of it being called in a major college game? I know you said you had called it twice in your career. Was that in high school or college games and do you remember the teams involved and the circumstances? I'd love to hear the stories.

kynut

[Lighthouse]

Nut, it's been a long time and I don't remember the teams, but one was in HS and the other was in College. In the College game, a guard had beat his man and was driving to the basket. A forward saw him coming, and set up to take a charge. The guard saw him and moved around him avoiding any contact, and when the forward went down with no obvious contact, I wacked him. I was in good position on the baseline and had a great view of the entire play. I think this happened at St Joseph University. The HS one was about the same.