Arizona Basketball: How Pac-12 officiating has impacted the Wildcats

Arizona Basketball has had to face many challenges this season, one of them being the Pac-12 officiating and how it’s impacted the outcome of some of the games.

Pac-12 refs. This past season, how conference games have been called have had a negative impact on the outcome of close Arizona Basketball games. The last game against the UCLA Bruins on the road is a prime example and why they have a big impact on the outcome of some of the games this season for the Wildcats.

Against the Bruins, the Wildcats only went to the free-throw line 16 times and made 10 of their attempts. On the other hand, their opponent went to the charity stripe 38 times and made 29 of them! Yes, that’s not a typo.

Now you can’t tell me that in a close game, that type of discrepancy from the free-throw line isn’t going to have a significant impact on the game. It did. The Wildcats had the lead the majority of the game, but the Bruins were able to slowly get back into it.

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

Getting to the free-throw more wasn’t the only deciding factor in the Wildcats losing by five, but played a significant role in doing so. It did have a major impact on how the Wildcats defended the Bruins. With three key players, Zeke Nnaji, Stone Gettings and Christian Koloko all getting four fouls, it forced them to not play as aggressive as they would have liked.

The way this game was called even resulted in Sean Miller getting ejected. One of the two technical he got was when he though Nico Mannion got fouled, but it actually was a clean play. The second technical he got was Miller just giving his “opinion” on how he disagreed with the officiating. Honestly, do you blame him!

It almost worked in the Wildcats favor as they did build a six-point lead after Miller got ejected, but wasn’t enough in the end. This wasn’t the only game though in which the Pac-12 officials cost the Wildcats a possible.

Against Oregon in Eugene, they missed an obvious foul by Payton Pritchard on Nnaji as he was attempting the shot at the buzzer to win the game. Then later in OT they had to review a play in which it had “appeared” Pritchard stepped on the line before he threw the ball back onto the floor to an Arizona player right under the basket.

These two games are an example of how bad the Pac-12 officiating has been. For as long as I can remember, it’s always been bad and it feels even worse this season. Yes, it’s not an easy job being a college referee, but sometimes there are obvious calls and decisions made that make no sense.

Having the rule in which they review plays under two minutes is good but can be better. That rule should be expanded to which coaches should be able to challenge once or twice during a half. The technology is there for fans to watch replays on television, so why not incorporate it for the entirety of the game for coaches and players.

Not just replays, but how the game itself is called. Players are going to initiate contact, have to let them play and not call every single time someone gets touched. It’s absurd. Time for a change!

At Zona Zealots, let us know what your thoughts are on the current state of Pac-12 officiating in college basketball. We can always hope that one day it will improve. For now, we have to just accept how bad it is. As always, Bear Down, Arizona!