Connecticut Head Coach Jim Calhoun was reprimanded by the Big East office after making comments regarding the officiating of his team’s game with Northeastern. Calhoun was given two technicals and ejected for laughing at a call. Official Wally Rutecki called the first technical on Calhoun for using profanity while correcting one of his players….Are you kidding me!! An official who is paid $2000 for a little under two hours of work should be concentrating on what is going on out on the floor, not on the bench..
Talking with several coaches over the past couple of days has given me a new perspective on power run amock. Without any checks and balances the officials in college basketball have given more technicals to date than in any previous season.
Since when is it illegal to yell at your players. I guess this is a new sensivtivy training for officials. After 25 years of coaching I can tell you that officials need to get better at calling the plays on the court and forget about the bench. If you don’t believe me ask Jay Wright at Villanova after the horrendous call that cost him a game against North Carolina State. Oh, that’s right he can’t comment.
Finally, as Coach Calhoun questioned, “how did the official know it wasn’t gas that I had on the bench when I laughed?”
Once again I call upon the NCAA to make the officials attend a post game press conference to answer any questions. That way they will think twice prior to broad personal interpretations. And I am not talking about blocks and charge calls.
