John Higgins hanging up the whistle

[PretzelDawg]

I always thought Higgins was a good referee. Sure, he missed some calls at times, but who doesn't? He was just easier to be noticed than others with his hair. John Higgins' Hair was a great twitter follow for a long time.

[BCPanther]

You've got it backwards. We get the good guys during the week and the dregs on the weekends.

There's a reason that 'Saturday Night in the Valley' is a thing.

It's an awful thing for college basketball that guys like HIggins and Mark Whitehead and Chris Rastatter and Terry Wymer have decided to leave the floor in the past couple years. Those guys were fantastic and hopefully they're allowed to have real influence in the next generation of officials from their administrative positions.

I am curious. Who do you and other posters think are the good guys? During the 2022-23 MVC season UE had 33 different officials work their home and away conference games. Out of those officials 13 of them also worked at least one game during the NCAA tournament. So give me your opinions on who the good league officials are.
For the record I realize UE has been at or near the bottom of the league since 2017 and that may factor into the high amount of officials assigned them. 13 of the 33 officials only worked a UE conference game one time.

Of the guys that work the Valley, minus Higgins now--

Kipp Kissinger
Gerry Pollard
Marques Pettigrew
Antinio Petty
Jeb Hartness
Ray Natili
Brooks Wells
Chance Moore
Amy Bonner
Bert Smith

Just below that group but still solid--
Rick Crawford
Darron George
Gary Maxwell
Ed Crenshaw
Brad Ferrie
Tyler Kumpf

[BigMacAttack]

Impressive list. I had to revise the officials total from 33 to 34. Who knew there is a Bert Smith and Bret Smith working the MVC.
So all the referees on your list except Darron George worked the NCAA tournament. Neither Higgins, Kissinger, nor George worked UE games last season.
Petty and Crawford worked 4 MVC games each. Maxwell worked 3 and Arch Madness. Pollard and Bonner worked 2 and Arch Madness. Pettigrew and Kumpf worked 2. The rest of the list worked 1 each.
Non-list multiple MVC games officials were: Gene Grimshaw 4; Bret Smith, Roland Simmons and Ervin Wilson 3; and Craig Murley, Brad Gaston, Brian McNuff, Winston Stith, and Rick O'Neill 2.

[BCPanther]

Impressive list. I had to revise the officials total from 33 to 34. Who knew there is a Bert Smith and Bret Smith working the MVC.
So all the referees on your list except Darron George worked the NCAA tournament. Neither Higgins, Kissinger, nor George worked UE games last season.
Petty and Crawford worked 4 MVC games each. Maxwell worked 3 and Arch Madness. Pollard and Bonner worked 2 and Arch Madness. Pettigrew and Kumpf worked 2. The rest of the list worked 1 each.
Non-list multiple MVC games officials were: Gene Grimshaw 4; Bret Smith, Roland Simmons and Ervin Wilson 3; and Craig Murley, Brad Gaston, Brian McNuff, Winston Stith, and Rick O'Neill 2.

Darron George got hurt during the CUSA Tournament otherwise I'm sure he'd have gotten the call.

The bottom part of your list are the 'Saturday Night in the Valley' guys that are a combination of older guys winding down (Stith, Murley, O'Neill, McNutt), guys that have been 'Saturday Night in the Valley' guys for a long time because they live in the footprint (Simmons, Grimshaw, Wilson, Gaston) and then you have some guys that are new to DI that are getting a taste of higher level (Shane Staggs, Kevin Driver).

[achrist70]

I'm not sure if he really officiates much anymore, I haven't seen him lately, but to me the worst official the Valley has had in recent history is Zelton Steed.

[BCPanther]

I'm not sure if he really officiates much anymore, I haven't seen him lately, but to me the worst official the Valley has had in recent history is Zelton Steed.

He left the floor 3 or 4 years ago to be the SoCon Director of Officials.

[30ASaluki]

Can he take Gerry Pollard with him?

AND Referee Barbie.