Ref Bias

[RUBigFrank]

Over many years we have claimed refs giving a priority to another team, noncalls or an out right bias for one higher/highly regarded team.

It got me wondering what folks thought the reason for referee bias:

• Better team perception bias
• Bad eye sight
• Dislike for certain team
• Home calls
• Bad ref
• Any other discernible reason?

 

[DennisHajekRC84]

Over many years we have claimed refs giving a priority to another team, noncalls or an out right bias for one higher/highly regarded team.

It got me wondering what folks thought the reason for referee bias:

• Better team perception bias
• Bad eye sight
• Dislike for certain team
• Home calls
• Bad ref
• Any other discernible reason?

• protecting the league's top teams so as not to "bad loss" on the tourney resume.
• intimidation of top coach/respect for vs. newbie/kind of quiet guy.

 

[BIGRUBIGDBIGredmachine]

• protecting the league's top teams so as not to "bad loss" on the tourney resume.

The highly ranked B1G dogs always have and always will get the calls vs. mid to lower tier teams.

 

[Mr_Twister]

Complaining about refs is a byproduct of being a Rutgers fan. Nothing more annoying than sitting next to someone officiating the game from the seat next to you at the game or in front of a TV. Enjoy the action and let the refs do their jobs. They are imperfect. They miss calls. They are not out to get us. If you play back the game and inspect every play, the calls go both ways in the course of a game. Only known confirmed exception - referee Tim Higgins.

 

[DennisHajekRC84]

Complaining about refs is a byproduct of being a Rutgers fan. Nothing more annoying than sitting next to someone officiating the game from the seat next to you at the game or in front of a TV. Enjoy the action and let the refs do their jobs. They are imperfect. They miss calls. They are not out to get us. If you play back the game and inspect every play, the calls go both ways in the course of a game. Only known confirmed exception - referee Tim Higgins.

well I'm watching the game on BTN for the 3rd time and I can see the refs calling the fouls in anticipation on the Rutgers D side. And letting everything go the other end.
They're not out to get US but you can see the same "lean" in other games involving top vs. lesser teams. Just go watch the endgame of Purdue-Mich the day before.

Guess you never heard of "Jordan Rules". They're not perfect but you'll never convince me they aren't "inclined" in this world of never ending corruption and favoritism. They are FAR from Saints.

 

[bowlgoal]

Complaining about refs is a byproduct of being a Rutgers fan. Nothing more annoying than sitting next to someone officiating the game from the seat next to you at the game or in front of a TV. Enjoy the action and let the refs do their jobs. They are imperfect. They miss calls. They are not out to get us. If you play back the game and inspect every play, the calls go both ways in the course of a game. Only known confirmed exception - referee Tim Higgins.

well I'm watching the game on BTN for the 3rd time and I can see the refs calling the fouls in anticipation on the Rutgers D side. And letting everything go the other end.
They're not out to get US but you can see the same "lean" in other games involving top vs. lesser teams. Just go watch the endgame of Purdue-Mich the day before.

Guess you never heard of "Jordan Rules". They're not perfect but you'll never convince me they aren't "inclined" in this world of never ending corruption and favoritism. They are FAR from Saints.

I can’t disagree with you. The fouls were called in anticipation is such a terrible thing to say but it’s friggin true and sucks. Even the illegal pick gets called if it’s even questionable. Hate to say but we’ve lost games because of refs for years

 

[soundcrib]

Illegal screens, contact under the hoop, charge vs block, and Corey getting a whistle never go in our favor. And what I listed happens EVERY game.

 

[rudad02]

I can’t disagree with you. The fouls were called in anticipation is such a terrible thing to say but it’s friggin true and sucks. Even the illegal pick gets called if it’s even questionable. Hate to say but we’ve lost games because of refs for years

Happens to us in all sports. Outside of us it happens in all sports at every level. Established winning teams get the calls.

 

[FrankZ]

Had it with basketball officiating decades ago. Ruins the sport for me.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

agreed there was some bias.. but slowing down replays on many occasions I saw that I was wrong.. not the ref.

I also think that there is a distinct possibility of single refs or collusion to work a betting angle. It has happened before and will happen again.. have no idea if our games are a part of that.. I do not think the Sparty game was n example of that.. but Purdue really looked like it... not that we lost because of that.

But here's what I cannot forgive.. very late in the game.. I think it was Sparty number 5 (guy who ends up hitting all those FTs) he drives the baseline under our basket and steps out while delivering a pass that I think ended up in an AND-1 basket. You can see the old ref looking at his feet.. he knows he stepped on the line. I can forgive not making the call.. but dammit.. there was a break in the action to shoot the fouls shots.. its a tie game.. or damn near it.. very late in regulation.. at least have the sense to check the video to make sure he let go of the ball.. you SAW him step out.. unfortunately it was in front of MSU's bench.. not ours.. I cannot blame Pike for not seeing it.. and our players were playing the ball.. but damnit.. he stepped out and that probably lost us the game.

 

[PurpleR]

There are two types of bias that I see repeatedly and I am not talking about just Rutgers basketball games. They are 1. Better Team bias 2. High profile coach bias. I think there is usually a home team bias but I also think that has to do with crowds and reaction of crowds.

Good teams are obviously better coached (usually) and as a result when a referee makes a snap judgement call I believe that there is a bias that perhaps isn't obvious to the referee but more of a reaction- and also includes anticipating making a call one way or another. I think the same thing occurs in regard to the high profile coach, I have heard referees explain that it has no bearing but that is nonsense. There is a natural inclination to respect what a successful coach has been able to accomplish and I think a deference to that coach and his players that you see time and time again (sometimes it is intimidation of a referee). I have watched some teams hand check all over the court after hearing that it would be a point of emphasis that it would be called in a particular year.

I think Rutgers has the man at the helm that can help them crawl out of the position of being on the wrong end of these calls over time. Hopefully fans will do their part in making the home crowd the third factor but quite frankly I have not seen so much of that work in recent years at the RAC.

 

[Bean Talk]

Sat on the floor for a game a few years back vs UConn.

Napier completely mugged one of our guards right in front of me and the ref didn’t call anything.

Ball went out of bounds and there was a stoppage in play and I asked the ref, “Sir, how is that not a foul, he completely mugged him.”

The refs response? “The kid plays hard.”

I thought, what? A foul is a foul is a foul.

 

[SirScarlet]

only the naive believe that refs are "perfect" and call things evenly

I have posted on this many times. every human being has subconcious bias. I believe that in general, refs tend to lean towards stronger teams.

this isn't a hard concept to get ones head wrapped around...but people just dont want to believe it.

 

[ruready4somefootball]

I can only speak as a former HS ref, and in the Shore Conference at that. Back when I was a ref,each HS coach would submit a list to the assigner for their home games.10 refs on their "want" list, and 10 on their "don't want" list. In all the years I was a ref, only at a CBA home game did the coach tell me, "keep making calls like that, and I will put you on my don't want list". I'm betting there's something along those lines in the college ranks also. When Rutgers gets to shoot 15 FT, and MS gets to shoot 34, something like that, has to be in play.

 

[TDIrish27]

What were your thoughts on the RU-Seton Hall game ?

 

[SirScarlet]

What were your thoughts on the RU-Seton Hall game ?

I would be happy to give you my thoughts on that game if after I reply you give me your thoughts on the 4000 other games that we will list out for you.