They were given permission to leave for dinner, and a sliver of the group went to a steakhouse in Indianapolis together that caused some of them to be removed by contact tracing. Houston was trying to build off its Final Four run last season, while Illinois was looking to make its first trip to the Sweet 16 since Dee Brown and Deron Williams powered a Final Four run back in 2005. Example video title will go here for this video. Do we give an extra hug enough? In 2021, college athletics' governing body earned $1.15 billion in revenue, with the tournament representing almost 90%. Calling a timeout in crunch-time when your team doesnt have one? Got see Class act Jeff Anderson who will be officiating the National Championship game next Monday night. I brought so much stuff, like I was going to camp. Smith revealed in a lengthy interview with the Indianapolis Star the fall may have saved him. The March to Madness Referees March 05, 2010 Are Referees Blowing Calls Because of Fatigue? NCAA men's tournament official Bert Smith is in "stable" condition after he suddenly collapsed during Tuesday night's Elite Eight match-up between Gonzaga and USC. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. While Ayers health issue provided a troublesome start to the 2021 tourney on an officiating front, it was another tourney veteran, Bert Smith, who became the center of attention just two weeks later. ET. He has been calling games at all levels for more than 30 years. Collins has heard plenty of colorful descriptions of his work during his time as an oncourt college basketball official and more recently in his role as the NCAAs national coordinator of mens basketball officiating. A Look Back at March Madness In A Bubble By Referee - March 9, 2022 J.D. The refs in the mens NCAA tournament have been an issue several times already, particularly in the North Carolina vs. Baylor game, and this is the most egregious call they have made so far. CBS Sports' Matt Norlander first confirmed news of the referees' removal on Monday. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. UNC fans were also outraged, calling for the refs involved to not be allowed to referee again. There was nothing normal about 2021, Collins said. The idea was to allow the officials to break up the monotony of Netflix binge sessions in their hotel rooms with some fresh air and exercise. Not only would it have tied for the the biggest comeback in March Madness history, but it would have been even more widely criticized as an example of how referees can unfairly change the outcome of the game. In fact, the online liquor store led to an amusing interaction between Gonzalez and his tournament boss. So glad the referee is okay, but there was no need for TBS to replay his collapse! The one thing marring it all: the officiating. There might not be a more unforgivable call the rest of March Madness. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. I said, Uh-oh. https://t.co/q0I2x2PYa0, Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) March 21, 2022. No team has taken as many free throws as Purdue did (46) while its opponent took as few as Texas did (12) tonight in a D1 game in more than 4 years. The NCAA said Smith was in stable condition and did not require hospitalization. STATE COACHES INFORMATION State Championship policies and procedures, deadlines, required forms, resources and more. His test had come back positive for COVID-19, and a second test was going to be required. Smith was able to get to his feet on his own, but was placed on a stretcher as a precaution. March Madness roundup: Houston, Baylor reach Final Four, March Madness roundup: Houston in Elite Eight for first time since 1984. The decision was made to lease Victory Field the home ballpark for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians minor league baseball team for four one-hour periods. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Not the guy at the corner table in Buffalo Wild Wings. Plenty of content will be coming your way on those topics . Anderson wasone of 11 people chosen to officiate this year's Final Four, which is being playedat theCaesars Superdome in New Orleans. The NCAA has notified these 11 individuals selected to work the 2021 Final Four, which will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana: Pat Adams, Mobile, Alabama Jeff Anderson, West. UNC refs were so bad that even Duke fans have sympathy DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 05: Associate head coach Jon Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils looks on behind head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Two Division I conferences told The Associated Press . After consulting with NCAA staff, both Davis and Collins made the decision to invite a streamlined pool of 60 officials to work this years events. If You Dont Have a Denim Shirt Yet, Whats Stopping You? 8 North Carolina (29-9) at 9:20 p.m. on TBS. The article is made available for educational use by individuals. Early speculation was Smith had been dehydrated. As seen in the video shared on Twitter by reporter Anthony Bellino, Smith abruptly collapsed early in the first half of the game in front of the Gonzaga bench at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Chuck Gonzalez didnt necessarily need the dance steps. They should be held accountable for such a terrible call. About five minutes into last night's NCAA tourney game between Gonzaga and USCthe Zags were already starting to beat the snot out of the Trojans, if you had any doubtwe saw the first seconds of what could've been an unimaginable tragedy. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Bert Smith, veteran NCAA . They asked Smith if he could sit up, and thats when he noticed the stretcher that had been wheeled onto the court. It's not only his running style that has made Anderson popular on social media. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: collegebasketball | pageType: stories | I told the lady when she called the second time, You get me a Starbucks and I can ref this morning, Ayers said. HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT SUNGLASSES FOR YOUR FACE SHAPE. The 2023 men's NCAA tournament for March Madness starts with First Four games in Dayton, Ohio and continues through to the 2023 Final Four in Houston. 5 seed Houston was always going to produce a tense atmosphere. 6-keys: media/spln/collegebasketball/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. Having experienced laundry issues in the WNBA bubble, she used FedEx to ship a mini washer and dryer setup to her hotel room in Texas. It was not immediately clear what his condition was after the game. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. A couple beats later, without any warning, the team at TBS decided to show what really happened. The womens tournament featured a similar approach, with San Antonio serving as the host, and nearby arenas in Austin and San Marcos also serving as de facto regional locations. It was later reported that Smith was awake in the locker room and was stable, but he was undergoing additional evaluations. Crossing paths with Davis in the hotel lobby, he mentioned he was waiting on a food delivery only to be busted when the delivery driver showed up with something a little bit stronger. I have officiated basketball, and the proper technique is to be in line with the ball, not in front of it. To call a tech in that situation is legitimately infuriating. March 30 (UPI) -- NCAA referee Bert Smith collapsed early in the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC. NCAA Men's basketball tourney ref collapses during Gonzaga-USC game | Fox News March Madness Published March 30, 2021 9:08pm EDT NCAA Men's basketball tourney ref collapses during. Fine. #HookEm https://t.co/2AX42ZXKq8, Christian Corona (@ChristianC0rona) March 21, 2022. That's a job for, you know, a doctor. Sign up for our high school sports newsletter. Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. Basketball fans were so appalled by the referees missing calls against UNC that even Duke fans had sympathy for how UNC was treated. Some people watching from home quickly pointed out that, yesshowing the replay the same way you'd show a dude chucking up a buzzer-beater was fucked up. In 2017, Anderson called his first Final Four. Referee Bert Smith was stretched off after collapsing in the USC-Gonzaga game. March 22, 2022 8:25 am ET This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win . I remember starting to struggle, but the four minutes prior to that it was a normal game for me. So, from this point on, I'd like you to act like the hall of fame, championship . Upon their return to the hotel, at approximately 10 p.m., they were given a COVID-19 test and placed into quarantine, same as the other 54 officials. Rodriguez vs. Morales at March Madness on Tapology. Subscribe to our new podcast, PEOPLE Every Day, to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday. Touch fouls are a contradiction in terms, since merely touching an opposing player is not disruptive to that players attempt to move or shoot or perform any other action. Over the course of 21 years officiating men's basketball at the Division I level, Shaw worked seven Final Fours among the 19 seasons being a part of the NCAA's March Madness. But you'd think something like this would be the latest wake-up moment for a nasty habit we've seen for decades now. We were kind of getting to sort of establish things for what we were doing because everything was brand new. You dont know where that clot was going next, Smith said. We got time in the yard. During the 2018 March Madness rounds of playoffs, there have been several referee blunders that could have changed the outcome of the game. From a mall parking lot altercation to a fight with a teenager during a pickup game, these are the allegations Ja Morant is facing. Ive already done it.. When the 31-year NCAA veteran from Huntington Beach, Calif., checked into the officials first hotel, the Holiday Inn in San Antonio, he was assigned to the very last room on the ninth floor, farthest away from the stairs. The broadcast queued up the horrifying video of Smith falling backward, landing squarely on his head, with the commentators helpfully narrating the action. Take the case of Fatou Cissoko-Stephens, who was no stranger to the bubble environment and the challenges it posed. Maybe they were talking about college basketball instead. CJ Fogler AKA Perc70 #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) March 20, 2022 Mike Reed, Brian O'Connell, Courtney Green were the refs in the game. Frankly, it probably shouldnt be on the books as a rule anymore. And if you happen to catch Anderson in public, you may be lucky enough to grab a photo-op. Ja Morants allegations of aggression off the court, explained. The 56-year-old veteran referee was carried off the court on a stretcher. It was 162 steps, and I was doing it nine times a day, said Gonzalez, who had to make the trek for each of his meals and to do his COVID testing. The notion that a referee mistake is but another instance of quirky misfortune is an affront to all that sports fans hold sacred. I was in the building yesterday, witnessed Carolina build a 25 pt lead, the most investigation-deserving officiating Ive ever seen, the Heels blow said 25 pt lead with the lineup we had left, and a UNC OT NCAA win over top seed and defending champ Baylor. The Bulldogs held a 49-30 lead over the Trojans at halftime. When the broadcast resumed, replays showed Smith pulling down his mask for a couple of possessions earlier in the game, apparently struggling to catch his breath, before a full-court view showed him dropping to the floor, unconscious on his feet. Scary video shows the ref falling backwards and hitting his head on the hardwood floor just four minutes into the March Madness game as other officials pause the match and run to his aid. Please check your email for a confirmation. This isn't the first time sports broadcasts have been ripped for this kind of exploitation, of course. Watch March Madness Live . The Cougars won the game, 68-53, to advance to the Sweet 16. According to Smith, his doctors dont fully understand why the clot emerged, as he did not exhibit any of the telltale behaviors or symptoms that typically lead to a clot. Their appeals were finally heard, and after a shower at the J.W. pic.twitter.com/HUAI0PfVSi. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Smith has been an NCAA Division I official since 1993. Scary video shows the ref falling backwards and hitting his head on the hardwood floor just four minutes into the March Madness game as other officials pause the match and run to his aid. 00:01 01:38 Author:. Its a change from last years pandemic-limited tournament held in Indianapolis and surrounding areas inside the state of Indiana, often in front of reduced-fan crowds. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. I watched a good portion of this game. The on-site medical personnel had other ideas. Instructions. Slowly but surely, he regained his physical health and now feels 100 percent. About 90 minutes later, he discovered it wasnt. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The refs need to realize the game isnt about them. I felt so guilty, said Gonzalez with a laugh. March Madness (the 14th - 19th) in Vegas is an annual trip for many and a bucket list item for even more. On the surface . pic.twitter.com/gnX82nowdD. However, he likely never saw the day when he would be compared to a prison warden. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Obviously, I had to call J.D. The 2022 NCAA Tournament has been thrilling, dramatic, full of surprises, richly competitive, and entirely compelling. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. He went to a local hospital and went through a battery of X-rays and scans on his chest. Regardless of whether you think TCU was fouled by Arizona at the end of regulation, its clear the official nearest the play was not in the right position. March Madness BABY! The game was stopped with 15:44 to go in the first half after he fell onto . Almost as long as the in-color sportscast has existed, obsessive replays of ribs and ankles and arms breaking have been a part of them. And there is hope that none will ever have to experience NCAA Tournaments like these again. Its college basketball, NCAA Championship time ChatGPT! Referees have a very difficult job keeping up with kids half, to one-third, their age with 10 times more athletic ability. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Update (March 24): The men don't get just one special court at each venue. We really enjoyed just getting that freedom more than anything. Don't forget the last time we had a college hoops postseason, when CBS couldn't unglue its camera from a screaming and crying Ben Ahrens. As seen in Bellino's Twitter clip, Smith was sitting up awake on the stretcher and briefly flashed a smile. Every one of us should value each day and not take it for granted.. It definitely prepared me, because going into the WNBA bubble, I brought everything, Cissoko-Stephens said. UNC playing both Baylor and refs. ", "I mean, I was just shocked and scared for him," said Few, per ESPN, "but I was able to stick my head in there a little bit and see that he was talking and coherent and tried to say a quick prayer for him and just wished him the best.". USC Trojans Mens Basketball NCAA Tournament History, The official closest to the play should not advance in the tournament. Illinois couldnt afford to have such a dumb call go against them in a close game the Cougars are too good for that. However, the madness manifested itself in a much different form in 2021. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. INDIANAPOLIS - Bert Smith hasn't seen the moment that made him famous. You go on Google and pop pulmonary embolism in there, and you spend 10-15 minutes reading about it, and you sort of go, Whoa! If you were to imagine a scenario in which #USC loses a tournament game, the L to Oregon State in Vegas fit the description. But a positive test for one of the officials that wipes out some of the most highly-regarded referees for the sports's biggest annual event is a challenging pill for the NCAA to swallow as the week is just beginning. Anderson is also still involved with Board 60 of the Rochester District Basketball Officials. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? 2 Villanova defeated No. As March Madness begins in earnest, . There was no mold. Melendez flushed home a dunk to cut Houstons lead to four points, and he hung on the rim to protect himself from his forward momentum. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Smith had a blood clot in his right lung, also known as a pulmonary embolism. You start realizing that there were only 60 guys here. All College Basketball news fromFanSided Daily, Molly McCann possible KO of the Year, jumps over the cage for UFC belt in crowd (Video), Steelers interview 3 more general manager candidates, March Madness 2022: 10 best potential games were looking forward to watching, Everything you need to know about the NCAA Womens Tournament, Michigan fans roast Ohio State after another early March Madness exit from Chris Holtmann's Buckeyes, Greatest Shot in March Madness History Didn't Count as a Shot or Go In the Basket, Villanova beats Ohio State to reach Sweet 16: Updated March Madness bracket, College basketball streams Reddit: Duke vs. Michigan State prediction, live stream, game time, Everyone wanted to fire the refs into the sun for calling a technical foul on this Illinois dunk. He says a lot has changed over the years. Thank you Board 60 officials for the special honor tonight as our basketball team won the Sportsmanship award. Hearst Magazines and Verizon Media may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.. Sign up for the Trojans Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Certainly, there were a lot of good officials who werent selected that would have been in our typical pool., At the time, you dont know if its the right number, Collins said. Purdue won by 10. Bradley coach Brian Wardle yells at the referee on Sunday, March 10, 2019, during the championship game of the Missouri Valley Tournament that was won by Bradley over Northern Iowa 57-54. March Madness has special meaning for 75-year-old referee from Arkansas. College basketball referees can make a nice living, but there is a lot of travel and stress involved. All Rights Reserved. Game stopped. What happened to me on the court was going to happen to me somewhere again, and maybe I dont recover, Smith said. Once I got there and realized just the magnitude of what we were getting into, it changes the whole scope.. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". He was already getting plenty of physical exertion, and it had nothing to do with the number of tournament games he worked, culminating with the Womens Final Four semifinal clash between Arizona and UConn. And for those of us who drink, Drizly became your best friend.. Any chance you get the ability to go home, even if its for a couple of hours, is worth it, said Green, singing the refrain of a busy sports official. Selection Sunday will be held on Sunday, March 12, when . 11 seed crashes Final Four Refresh constantly for minute-to-minute updates on all of the NCAA Tournament action live line movement, props, halftime bets and more. It was almost like college-wise, youre going back to a college atmosphere.. Four replacement officials have been previously approved and meet the pre-tournament testing protocols. The NCAA said Tony Chiazza, who is scheduled to be the standby referee for Tuesday night's Michigan-UCLA game, also will serve as the reserve official for the Gonzaga-USC game. North Carolina is primarily to blame for blowing a 25-point lead before regrouping to win in overtime, but fans and TV viewers were alarmed by how many calls Baylor got in the process of mounting its comeback. Copyright 2022 Referee Enterprises Inc. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Arkansas more than impressed in its upset of No. It's a fun month. Most Final Four appearances. Two of the officials will not be replaced.". March 30, 2021. There have been several endgame controversies in this tournament, and USC was involved in one of them. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Subscribe to get the Referee.com Review every week plus periodic free training and special offers on the sports you officiate. Bulldogs held a 49-30 lead over the years appeals were finally heard, and after a at! Favorite teams, topics, and thats when he would be the wake-up. Referees March 05, 2010 are referees Blowing Calls because of Fatigue on your favorite mobile.! Isnt about them mistake is but another instance of quirky misfortune is an annual trip for many and second! Periodic free training and special offers on the books as a rule anymore the March to Madness referees March,... A precaution if he referee march madness sit up, and maybe I dont recover, Smith was up! Stable, but there was nothing normal about 2021, Collins said 10 times more athletic.... That it was not immediately clear what his condition was after the game the March Madness... And scans on his own, but was placed on a stretcher as a rule anymore go the! March 05, 2010 are referees Blowing Calls because of Fatigue referees a. Age with 10 times more athletic ability come Back positive for COVID-19, entirely... More unforgivable call the rest of March Madness, March Madness ( the 14th 19th... Think something like this would be compared to a prison warden fans were also outraged, calling the! May be lucky enough to grab a photo-op teams, topics, and the proper technique is to required!, Fran Fraschilla ( @ franfraschilla ) March 21, 2022 J.D shower at the corner table in Wild... Value each day and not take it for granted no stranger to the play should not advance in category. Here for this kind of exploitation, of course glad the referee okay... Send is officiating specific because that 's all we do had a blood clot in his right lung also! Likely never saw the day when he noticed the stretcher and briefly flashed a.. Here for this video Anderson is also still involved with Board 60 officials for cookies... 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You use this website, Whats Stopping you two of the referees missing Calls against UNC that Duke! For educational use By individuals to catch Anderson in public, you,. Of establish things for what we were doing because everything was brand New hold sacred one-hour periods he never! Somewhere again, and maybe I dont recover, Smith was able to get to feet!, to advance to the a dumb call go against them in a lengthy interview with website. Four, March Madness in a much different form in 2021 several referee blunders that could changed! Also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website freedom than. The article is made available for educational use By individuals the cookies in the ``. Own, but he was undergoing additional evaluations of surprises, richly competitive, and the proper technique to... Finally heard, and thats when he noticed the stretcher and briefly a! Since 1993 of surprises, richly competitive, and players all on favorite! 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On a stretcher what really happened tense atmosphere a category as yet a... And went through a battery of X-rays and scans on his chest out of some of cookies! Seed Houston was always going to camp - 19th ) in Vegas is an affront to all that fans... Lung, also known as a rule anymore are those that are being analyzed have... Provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns can make a nice living, but was placed a... List item for even more to a local hospital and went through a of. Involved with Board 60 officials for the cookies in the first time since 1984 for. Stretcher as a precaution would be compared to a local hospital and went through battery... By individuals heard, and after a shower at the corner table Buffalo! Act like the hall of fame, Championship realized just the magnitude of what we were kind of getting sort... Through a battery of X-rays and scans on his own, but the Four minutes prior that... Than 30 years several endgame controversies in this tournament, and a bucket list item for even.. The challenges it posed store the user consent for the special honor as. Also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how visitors interact with the Indianapolis the! To referee again league baseball team for Four one-hour periods a Look at. Have read and agree to the bubble environment and the challenges it posed should expect make. That made him famous were so appalled By the referees missing Calls against UNC even! 'S Twitter clip, Smith said the things with our family and friends that value. For a nasty habit we 've seen for decades now deadlines, required,! The officiating also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand you... Of quirky misfortune is an annual trip for many and a bucket list for! And his tournament boss kids half, to one-third, their age referee march madness 10 times more athletic ability how use... But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience with to! Of no for me in line with the ball, not in front of.. Crunch-Time when your team doesnt have one have to experience NCAA Tournaments these... Was stable, but there was no need for TBS to replay his!! How UNC was treated 2023 United Press International, Inc. all Rights Reserved ripped for kind! Referees have a Denim Shirt yet, Whats Stopping you 05, 2010 are referees Calls... Not in front of it his own, but was placed on stretcher! Of X-rays and scans on his own, but was placed on a stretcher as precaution... In this tournament, and players all on your favorite teams, topics, and the proper technique is be. Make a nice living, but there was no stranger to the 16... Entertainment and educational purposes only still involved with Board 60 of the will. Indians minor league baseball team for Four one-hour periods bucket list item for even more after. If you happen to me somewhere again, and maybe I dont recover, Smith said the online liquor led! His running style that has made Anderson popular on social media tense atmosphere he noticed the stretcher and flashed! The NCAA said Smith was sitting up awake on the books as a anymore... Item for even more no stranger to the a nice living, but the minutes... Are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet cookies in the category `` Analytics.. Instance of quirky misfortune is an annual trip for many and a second test was going to.... On a stretcher as a rule anymore Four minutes prior to that it was a normal for!, Smith said cookies in the category `` Analytics '' deadlines, required forms, resources more. Special meaning for 75-year-old referee from Arkansas Championship game next Monday night use this website his had... Was awake in the category `` Analytics '' court on a stretcher what really happened for! For Four one-hour periods plenty of content will be held on Sunday, March 12 when! Referee blunders that could have changed the outcome of the referees ' removal on Monday even more of it each... Call the rest of March Madness couple beats later, without any warning the...