The Zebras are Part of the Battle!!
Every time I watch a sporting event, I am amazed by the number of times a bad call happens. That is until I reflect on it. Then I am amazed at how few bad calls are made. After all, in each play of each game there are more players than referees and more action than any one person can absorb at any one time. So it goes to reason that refs will miss a thing or two. And on really bad nights, those one or two things can destroy the predicted outcome of a game. And a season. And a championship dream. Yes, the winner of the whistle wars are usually the teams that prevail even when they should not.
These Whistle Wars are all about the struggles of any game when a group of fallible humans try to control the workings of a much larger group of infallable humans who are flying around at almost superhuman speed. Yet as a fan, I expect the refs to get it right all time. I also expect them to give my team the benefit of a doubt, even when that might not be right.
As I’ve looked at refs and their effects on games, I have come to the conclusion that some refs just don’t like my team. I’m sure you have had the same thoughts. Because of this I have produced a listing of over 300 basketball refs and how teams have done when they are on the court.
I hope you enjoy looking the data over.
On this site:
- Over 300 referees with the records of the schools when they called the games.
- All 363 Div I men’s basketball teams with their records when the referees called their games
- The 2023 referee comparisons for all 63 games of the NCAA Tournament
- A running referee comparions for all 63 games of the 2024 NCAA Tournament
- Downloadable spreadsheets (See under digital downloads)
Coming soon:
- A short book about Whistle Wars
- Apps
Coming next season:
- A more indepth analysis of officials effects on the game
- Possibly a look at the effect on women’s college basketball