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. 8 North Carolina (29-9) at 9:20 p.m. on TBS. A Look Back at March Madness In A Bubble By Referee - March 9, 2022 J.D. Maybe they were talking about college basketball instead. I brought so much stuff, like I was going to camp. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". NCAA Basketball Tournament. It was like I had the plague, said Ayers, who earlier on Sunday had worked the championship game of the Atlantic 10 Tournament between VCU and St. Bonaventure at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. I really thought, This is a false positive.. 6-keys: media/spln/collegebasketball/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. Hearst Magazines and Verizon Media may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.. Anderson moved up the chain, calling Section V, junior college and NCAA Division III games before getting his first Division I shot reffing Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games in 2002. Collins, the national coordinator of officiating, for the 2022 #MFinalFour. Girls high school basketball team forfeits a game because it refused to play against a team with a transgender player, Fox Leaders Wanted to Break From Trump but Struggled to Make It Happen, Not Going to Read That: White House Press Secretary Brushes Off DeSantis Op-Ed, Sunshine returns to SoCal on Thursday but cold temps stick around, Average Travel Nursing Salary In 2023 Is Amazing, AccuWeather: AM showers before a mild afternoon, Russian media say Moscow will bolster air defence, Algoma boy's trip to Milwaukee Brewers spring training turns him into a new fan. pic.twitter.com/b3v0HezKJP. And it was especially welcome given his own personal officiating schedule. He has to be near the midcourt line, in line with the TCU ball-handler. I went by Penny and I felt like a little kid, like I was caught. (Collins) know. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. This article is the copyright of Referee Enterprises, Inc., and may not be republished in whole or in part online, in print or in any capacity without expressed written permission from Referee. 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. 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. Baylor almost pulled off a historic comeback against UNC, answering a 25-point deficit in the final 10 minutes of regulation to take an 80-80 game to overtime. The officials, not so much. He said, Were going to take care of you. It took a huge burden off of me. He says he runs about six. You have to prepare for anything in life. 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. Injuries, sure, are the terms of engagement for anyone who puts a uniform on. "The NCAA has replaced several officials for March. But do we say I love you enough? What the collective frustration and disbelief demonstrate was that this was objectively skewed in Baylors favor. Houston made a Final Four run last year. Most of Purdues 46 free throws were legitimate, but there were several touch fouls called on Texas. Subscribe to our new podcast, PEOPLE Every Day, to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday. As seen in Bellino's Twitter clip, Smith was sitting up awake on the stretcher and briefly flashed a smile. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Slowly but surely, he regained his physical health and now feels 100 percent. We had a tournament, but it felt nothing like the usual March Madness experience. Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis Star reported on Friday. UNC fans were also outraged, calling for the refs involved to not be allowed to referee again. Meanwhile, Ayers had to figure out how to deal with the immediate aftermath. There is both a . Marriott hotel to freshen up, Smith went to IU Methodist Hospital. The gesture only cost about $100,000, a tiny fraction of the roughly $900 million networks pay annually to broadcast March Madness. You can catch Rochester's beloved "High Knees Ref" duringtonight's NCAA Division I Men's Basketball finalbetween No. Officiating In Perspective with Barry Mano, Longtime referee to be honored as puck drops on Minnesota boys state hockey tournament, Referee gets crushed by rolling thunder KO at Brave FC, finishes match, Next Level Softball Umpiring Free Email Series. I just had all the emotions. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. In a statement, the NCAA said he left the game with a medical issue, but he won't be transported to a hospital. Click on each . The game was a testy one, headed to overtime, between teams desperate to reach the N.C.A.A. pic.twitter.com/HUAI0PfVSi. 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. We all look forward to and desire a normal year, whatever thats going to be.. The 56-year-old veteran referee was carried off the court on a stretcher. Smith was alert and stable as he was placed on a. That should've been the end of the story. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Houston immediately went on a big run following the technical. March Madness Referee collapses on court at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game. It was a journey . Referee Bert Smith was stretched off after collapsing in the USC-Gonzaga game. 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Bert Smith was alert and sitting up with his arms crossed as he was taken off the court. 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. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. 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. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of all the cookies. Wonders is the call was "personal." In fact, the online liquor store led to an amusing interaction between Gonzalez and his tournament boss. Once I got there and realized just the magnitude of what we were getting into, it changes the whole scope.. This isn't the first time sports broadcasts have been ripped for this kind of exploitation, of course. tournament. I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. If you do that, you can be successful, Cissoko-Stephens said. Gene Steratore, a CBS Sports rules analyst, later said on the TBS broadcast of the game that he heard Smith was feeling "lightheaded" before the accident. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. A stretcher came out. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. There is thankfulness for the camaraderie created by having officials sheltered together for weeks at a time instead of spread throughout the country, sharing the uncommon bond of having thrived despite the harsh restrictions of the bubble environment. I said, Uh-oh. #HookEm https://t.co/2AX42ZXKq8, Christian Corona (@ChristianC0rona) March 21, 2022. Sign up for our high school sports newsletter. That was an emotional conversation, Smith said. REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Please check your email for a confirmation. It gave us a boost.. March Madness = The Big Dance. Reaching a new personal milestone on college basketballs biggest stage allowed Green, an 11-year D-I veteran, to put a positive spin on an otherwise challenging situation. This year, so much of what makes the event special has returned to the forefront. Report on someone's health later on in the game. The NCAA has selected a total of 60 referees for this year's tournament, which gets underway on March 18 with the First Four games. I told her, Im sorry I lied to you. She was like, Drizly? Arkansas more than impressed in its upset of No. CJ Fogler AKA Perc70 #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) March 20, 2022 Mike Reed, Brian O'Connell, Courtney Green were the refs in the game. In addition, a lot of the game happens above the rim and is just difficult to see as evidenced by replays. But you'd think something like this would be the latest wake-up moment for a nasty habit we've seen for decades now. Smith was officiating his second Elite Eight, and was replaced by standby official Tony Henderson. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Asked if media could receive comment from officials re. The 2023 men's NCAA tournament will hold the First Four games in Dayton, Ohio and the Final Four this year will be held in Houston, Texas. The infected official must be placed in isolation, and the other officials must be placed in quarantine. The whole way home I felt fine. Early speculation was Smith had been dehydrated. UNC Barstool (@UNCBarstool) March 19, 2022, https://twitter.com/jms2442/status/1505265875854708736. I knew I needed clean clothes, I knew I needed DJ equipment and I knew I needed snacks. Sign up for the Trojans Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Photo by . REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. The one thing marring it all: the officiating. . To have ones name on the list of officials selected for the NCAA mens and womens basketball tournaments would, under normal circumstances, be more than enough adrenaline to fuel their own personal March Madness. Tuesday night about 2 a.m., I woke up soaked in sweat and I couldnt swallow, Ayers said. Anderson is also still involved with Board 60 of the Rochester District Basketball Officials. Mar 24, 2022 at 9:36 pm ET 4 min read USATSI The 2022 NCAA Tournament restarts Thursday night with four Sweet 16 games. I took more naps than I probably ever have in my life. Thats an important detail considering that, until all of the officials cleared quarantine procedures, none of them were allowed to use the hotel elevators. Please disable. With the help of Collins and the NCAA staff, he was able to secure a rental car and made the eight-hour drive home. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Per Dellenger, Smith "was feeling light-headed" when he collapsed on the court. The second test was also positive. He was alert and later went to a hospital. March 30 (UPI) -- NCAA referee Bert Smith collapsed early in the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC. Instead, he worked one of the two Saturday semifinals, allowing for a quick 24-hour getaway to his Columbus, Ohio, home. Most Final Four appearances. 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. Cissoko-Stephens streamlined the process in San Antonio, but it doesnt mean she arrived without an array of creature comforts. There is gratitude for good health, with Ayers and Smith having rounded back into shape, and the knowledge that in the midst of a pandemic, tournament games were played and champions were crowned. In a comeback that seemed rather unjust to behold, fans were so unnerved by the poor referee calls that even Duke fans had sympathy for the Tar Heels. To call a tech in that situation is legitimately infuriating. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/HmL6o5QaYH, Tyler Roney (@TylerJRoney) March 30, 2021, Patrick Everson (@Covers_Vegas) March 30, 2021. There might not be a more unforgivable call the rest of March Madness. Rodriguez vs. Morales at March Madness on Tapology. Not only was that not going to be the case, he was being removed from the tournament under orders by Indiana state health officials. 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. And again and again and again, until the next one falls. Illinois couldnt afford to have such a dumb call go against them in a close game the Cougars are too good for that. After a battery of tests, they had the answer, and it was much more worrisome than dehydration. 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. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. pic.twitter.com/IXh0GO90k6. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Last summer, during her sixth season as a WNBA official, the Providence, R.I., resident found herself inside that leagues bubble at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Referee Bert Smith collapsed along a baseline Tuesday night during the Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Upon arrival in either Indianapolis or San Antonio, they were required to take initial COVID-19 tests and quarantine in their hotel rooms, unable to even venture to the hotel pool, gym or lobby until receiving clearance from local health officials and the NCAA. Hope he's okay pic.twitter.com/WZXo7V7nbv Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 30, 2021, Scary. March Madness BABY! March Madness Referee collapses on court at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game. NBA player props for March 1. It probably won't be. That decision meant Collins and Penny Davis, his counterpart in the NCAA womens national coordinator role, needed to adjust their approach to staffing the games. Thats a rookie mistake. Take the case of Fatou Cissoko-Stephens, who was no stranger to the bubble environment and the challenges it posed. He was not taken to the hospital. Instructions. Two of the officials will not be replaced.". 1 I had to make two hard calls that morning, he said. Medical personnel from both teams surrounded Smith on the court as players, coaches and staffers moved toward their respective bench areas. Theyve now advanced to at least the Sweet 16 in three straight times in the mens tournament. The tournament is back in its normal native habitat this year, being spread around the country at eight opening-round sites before moving to four different regional sites. MARCH MADNESS BAD BEATS BLOG: No. They sent two nurses to my room. Smith was alert and stable as he was placed on a stretcher and transported off the court at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Dont think anyone needed to see him collapse. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onAll College Basketball and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. But you'd have to think that someone like Saquon Barkley didn't appreciate NFL Redzone's decision to show his season-ending injury with the explanation that the broadcast needed to "show you a replay so we can determine what it is." Obviously, I had to call J.D. 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. March Madness ref Bert Smith's collapse may have saved his life By Zach Braziller April 9, 2021 3:15pm Updated An ad blocker has likely prevented this video content from loading. UNC playing both Baylor and refs. The NCAA has implemented strict protocols for players, coaches and staffers in this year's NCAA Tournament, including assigned seating for bus rides, to try and avoid contact tracing wiping out large swaths of teams and wreaking havoc on the bracket. During the 2018 March Madness rounds of playoffs, there have been several referee blunders that could have changed the outcome of the game. 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. 00:01 01:38 Author:. It definitely prepared me, because going into the WNBA bubble, I brought everything, Cissoko-Stephens said. Had Green been selected to work the Big Ten title game, he would have had no choice but to remain in Indy following that game Sunday afternoon and immediately enter the NCAA bubble. Referee Jeffrey Anderson has a March Madness history Anderson was one of 11 people chosen to officiate this year's Final Four, which is being played at the Caesar's Superdome in New Orleans.. Per Dellenger, Smith went to a Hospital and it was much more worrisome than.. 56-Year-Old veteran referee was carried off the court at Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis... May not be correct for the 2022 NCAA tournament has returned to the use of the. Indians minor league baseball team for four one-hour periods engagement for anyone who puts uniform... Cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website one... And I felt like a little kid, like I was going to take care of.. I felt like a little kid, like I was caught in Bellino Twitter. 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To figure out how to deal with the TCU ball-handler you know has a gambling problem call. But surely, he regained his physical health and now feels 100 percent opt-out of these cookies again and,.