WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

The general seating tickets are sold out or nearly so but there are still tickets set aside for each of the four schools.

[Just Bill]

I have a feeling the local crowd will still show up in very strong numbers. 

[Usuallywrong24]

Here's the deal with officials: They all work in more than one league.  So, the NCAA will look at who is playing and then ask a local conference to provide their best crew.  So with UWW and DePauw, they might ask for MWC refs (just an example, I don't which conference provided them).  With two conferences nearby it's very possible that the three MWC refs assigned might also happen to be WIAC refs. They might also happen to be NAC or CCIW refs too.

I think it is wrong for officials to be working teams in the NCAA that they have seen play 5-6 times during the season.  I have been officiating for some time now, and a ref can sometimes be helping or hurting a team, although most of the time unconsciously. Refs will have prior knowledge about how a team plays. An example of this could be knowing if a team is more physical or a certain player is a flopper and this could influence calls. 

I wish the NCAA would try to get the best officials to do these games, not the best officials who live in the area. 

[DPULefty22]

Here's the deal with officials: They all work in more than one league.  So, the NCAA will look at who is playing and then ask a local conference to provide their best crew.  So with UWW and DePauw, they might ask for MWC refs (just an example, I don't which conference provided them).  With two conferences nearby it's very possible that the three MWC refs assigned might also happen to be WIAC refs. They might also happen to be NAC or CCIW refs too.

I think it is wrong for officials to be working teams in the NCAA that they have seen play 5-6 times during the season.  I have been officiating for some time now, and a ref can sometimes be helping or hurting a team, although most of the time unconsciously. Refs will have prior knowledge about how a team plays. An example of this could be knowing if a team is more physical or a certain player is a flopper and this could influence calls. 

I wish the NCAA would try to get the best officials to do these games, not the best officials who live in the area.

I'm not able to give karma boosts... but this bolded portion certainly deserves one.

Did a little research myself on the officials for the UW-W sectional. Appears that of the three that handled the UW-W-Simpson game, two of them (a Barbara Fagan and a Brian Kenney) did at least one UW-W game this season. They were conference games, too.

In the UWW-DePauw game, both Becky Blank and Tyler Nelson officiated WIAC games involving Whitewater in the month of February. The third official that night is a Scott Doberstein. Mr. Doberstein was not an official for any previous WIAC games, but there is a Scott T. Doberstein who works as the athletic trainer at UW-Lacrosse. Perhaps that's nothing more than a strange coincidence, but I'm inclined to believe otherwise.

I would think that the NCAA would wish to try and avoid even the slightest appearance of impropriety in the assignment of their officials. I know that in most cases, that's exactly what happens. I can tell you that at the DePauw regional, the officials had not officiated a single DPU game all season long.

I fear that if I try and stretch the point any further I'll be accused of sour grapes. I just wanted to refute the earlier point that Friday night's officials had no connection to either team and to confirm (and strengthen) the point that Saturday night's officials had strong WIAC ties. And I think that's wrong, in any situation.

[The Champ]

The third official that night is a Scott Doberstein. Mr. Doberstein was not an official for any previous WIAC games, but there is a Scott T. Doberstein who works as the athletic trainer at UW-Lacrosse. Perhaps that's nothing more than a strange coincidence, but I'm inclined to believe otherwise.

It was the "same" Scott Doberstein.  But that is a good thing.

Why?

If Stout was playing LaCrosse, I would have no fears if Scott was one of the officials.  He may work for LaCrosse, but he officiates like a pro, and is nothing if not totally unbiased.  Scott has officiated games between Stout and LaCrosse - and I fully expect him to offiate some more in the future.

I find it funny that you don't want to be accused of sour grapes, but you've spent enough time investigating the officials to know where one of them works.... 

[badgerwarhawk]

My bad and thanks for the correction, DPU.   I don't believe Kenny has done games that I've seen, at least I don't remember him.  I am familiar with Barbara and had just spaced it when I posted my initial comment.  My bad, I didn't take the time to research it. 

And just so it's perfectly clear in no way did I intent to imply that any of them were anything but imparitial and professional.   Though I do tend to agree with those who feel they should come from some place else.  Though for the big bucks they're getting I can see why the NCAA doesn't want to fly them in.  That last statement is a bad joke and intended for amusement purposes only.

[DPULefty22]

I find it funny that you don't want to be accused of sour grapes, but you've spent enough time investigating the officials to know where one of them works.... 

Yep, this is about what I was afraid of, so let me make myself clear. My quarrel has nothing to do with officiating bias, perceived or otherwise. Rather, what I'm upset with is the idea, as 'usuallywrong' (who completely fails to live up to his/her username) said, that the NCAA would schedule officials who have done games involving one of the teams in the sectionals to officiate that team's games in the sectional. I think that goes completely against the spirit of neutral competition.

If you wanted sour grapes, this could be a much longer post. But that would belabor the point that I'm trying to make, which is that the NCAA should be making every effort to ensure that the officials they bring to the tournament have no prior working knowledge of the teams involved. It's fairer to everyone that way.

And for the record, if I were a fan of a WIAC school, and we were playing LaCrosse, and Mr. Doberstein were officiating, I'd be absolutely furious. Further, if I were a coach of a WIAC school and the above scenario occurred, I'd pull my team off the floor and refuse to play.

[Just Bill]

For the record, Doberstein never officiates UW-La Crosse games.

[Greek Tragedy]

For the record, I'm tied for 10th in the women's tourney pick em league. lol

[The Champ]

And for the record, if I were a fan of a WIAC school, and we were playing LaCrosse, and Mr. Doberstein were officiating, I'd be absolutely furious. Further, if I were a coach of a WIAC school and the above scenario occurred, I'd pull my team off the floor and refuse to play.

Scott has officiated UWL vs. UW Stout games.

I don't have a problem with it, because he's a professional.

Neither does Coach T.  There are some other officials that I cringe every time I see them take the floor in a UW Stout game - but not Scott.

For the record, Doberstein never officiates UW-La Crosse games.

I know you meant well, but in this case you are wrong.

[Just Bill]

Scott has officiated UWL vs. UW Stout games.

I don't have a problem with it, because he's a professional.

Neither does Coach T.  There are some other officials that I cringe every time I see them take the floor in a UW Stout game - but not Scott.

For the record, Doberstein never officiates UW-La Crosse games.

I know you meant well, but in this case you are wrong.

Champ,

It must have been a situation with an unavoidable conflict, because I've spoken to the conference officials assignor and he does not schedule Scott for UWL games (at Scott's own request).

[Barber Greene]

Is there internet radio or video coverage of the games on Friday? Are Tom and Gary doing the Warhawk game? D3Hoops doing the games on Friday?

[Pat Coleman]

We're doing all of the games, including streaming video for the semis and third-place game. Details out front later this week.

[Z71Warhawk]

We're doing all of the games, including streaming video for the semis and third-place game. Details out front later this week.

Where would I go to find the streaming video?

Thanks

[voice]

Barber... 
Gary and Tom ARE broadcasting all the Warhawk Women's Final Four action.  I got the information from a very good source!