Two days after I wrote about officials working too many games in a week, I watched Steve Welmer (who has officiated 80 games this year) almost cost Indiana a win on the road a Illinois. With just under 3 seconds DJ White was fouled shooting a desparation shot right in front of Welmer (it was not a judgement call either–he clearly grabbed his arm) and Welmer swallowed his whistle.
Fortunately for the Hoosiers they were able to win in double overtime. How would you like to be Kelvin Sampson explaining how he lost the Big Ten title by one game after having that type of call missed? The sad part is the officials will not be reprimanded or penalized for a bad game.
Earlier in the week I watched two calls go against Gonzaga in their loss at St. Mary’s. I don’t want to take anything away from the Gaels win, but again it was a case of the same officials working too many games in a week.
As Jay Bilas has so eloquently put it. “There must be accountability to keep officials in line.”
