#1. First off, KU is our rival, they're in our conference, so this is pertinent. Go ahead and check the "rent-free" and "little brother" clichés at the door here. The complaints about this aren’t limited to K-State. All the other 9 programs in this conference are fed up with it. National commentators, writers, and analysts have chimed in about zebra favoritism and KU basketball. This is a real problem, it does matter, and it affects every team in the conference. Heck, it actually hurts KU too....they're always over-seeded and play soft in crunch time when the Big Dance rolls around and the zebras are on the level!
#2. I know a lot of you have friends, family, co-workers that are ardent Beakers and you are soft-hearted and capitulate to their bullsh*t lines that basically allow them to talk down to K-Staters. Some of you have consumed so much JoCo drivel that you actually believe the Squawk company line or even enjoy KU basketball. This thread isn't for you and will hurt your feelings.
#3. All teams can get a boost from officiating at times. That's not what we're talking about here. KU also has a good team and good coach, not every win is from officiating, obviously. That being said, the zebras don't mind giving KU a little boost when they need it! We aren't talking about judgment calls on ticky-tacky fouls, we are talking about blatantly screwing up calls that do not require interpretation or nuance. We are talking about consistent, egregious, mis-application of procedural rules that benefit a certain team , a lot. Which brings me to my 4th point...
#4. Accountability: in any other league, when a crew screws up a call or series of calls, they are reprimanded. Usually assigned to lesser games, or even fined. It even happens to BigXII contract officials if the call benefits someone other than KU. This is fact, not conspiracy.
This list is very long, but here a few examples that come to mind and have real proof on the interwebs.
2003-04. Before the streak of league titles but a classic example of officiating in AF. Iowa State is shooting a 2-shot foul, KU "rebounds" after the 1st shot, pretends its a 1&1, and flies down the court to hit a 3. The refs count the 3, KU ends up winning this game 90-89 in overtime
2012-13 We all remember this dandy! A litany of egregious calls allows the game to be extended into overtime. Hawks win 108-96 in OT. Jeff Whithey literally fouls out twice. KU needs this win to tie K-State as BigXII co-champ and continue their streak of conference titles.
2013-14 KU defeats #9 oSu in AF 80-78. The first picture is actually highlighted on SportsCenter and celebrated as a Top 10 play. The ball is flying out of bounds, #1 is clearly out of bounds, right in front of the Zebra, throws the ball back in for a fast-break bucket. Joel Embid is clearly goaltending, no call of course. Bottom right, KU player is clearly out of bounds once again, in front of the ref, and goes up to score 2 more points.
2016-17 Mike Stuart and his crew allow Svi to take 2 extra steps to ensure a last second victory over in-state rival K-State, 90-88. Mike Stuart and crew verbally confront Bruce Weber when questioned about it in the immediate moments following the game. This no call makes national headlines. One year later, Mike Stuart and company are assigned to officiate the Sunflower Showdown in Lawrence once again. KU hits a 3 to close the first half and tie the game, on the heels of a K-State shot-clock violation where KU had full possession of the ball and turned it back over to K-State. Cartier Diarra is T'd up by no other than Mike Stuart in the 2nd half. KU wins 73-72
#2. I know a lot of you have friends, family, co-workers that are ardent Beakers and you are soft-hearted and capitulate to their bullsh*t lines that basically allow them to talk down to K-Staters. Some of you have consumed so much JoCo drivel that you actually believe the Squawk company line or even enjoy KU basketball. This thread isn't for you and will hurt your feelings.
#3. All teams can get a boost from officiating at times. That's not what we're talking about here. KU also has a good team and good coach, not every win is from officiating, obviously. That being said, the zebras don't mind giving KU a little boost when they need it! We aren't talking about judgment calls on ticky-tacky fouls, we are talking about blatantly screwing up calls that do not require interpretation or nuance. We are talking about consistent, egregious, mis-application of procedural rules that benefit a certain team , a lot. Which brings me to my 4th point...
#4. Accountability: in any other league, when a crew screws up a call or series of calls, they are reprimanded. Usually assigned to lesser games, or even fined. It even happens to BigXII contract officials if the call benefits someone other than KU. This is fact, not conspiracy.
This list is very long, but here a few examples that come to mind and have real proof on the interwebs.
2003-04. Before the streak of league titles but a classic example of officiating in AF. Iowa State is shooting a 2-shot foul, KU "rebounds" after the 1st shot, pretends its a 1&1, and flies down the court to hit a 3. The refs count the 3, KU ends up winning this game 90-89 in overtime
2012-13 We all remember this dandy! A litany of egregious calls allows the game to be extended into overtime. Hawks win 108-96 in OT. Jeff Whithey literally fouls out twice. KU needs this win to tie K-State as BigXII co-champ and continue their streak of conference titles.
2013-14 KU defeats #9 oSu in AF 80-78. The first picture is actually highlighted on SportsCenter and celebrated as a Top 10 play. The ball is flying out of bounds, #1 is clearly out of bounds, right in front of the Zebra, throws the ball back in for a fast-break bucket. Joel Embid is clearly goaltending, no call of course. Bottom right, KU player is clearly out of bounds once again, in front of the ref, and goes up to score 2 more points.
2016-17 Mike Stuart and his crew allow Svi to take 2 extra steps to ensure a last second victory over in-state rival K-State, 90-88. Mike Stuart and crew verbally confront Bruce Weber when questioned about it in the immediate moments following the game. This no call makes national headlines. One year later, Mike Stuart and company are assigned to officiate the Sunflower Showdown in Lawrence once again. KU hits a 3 to close the first half and tie the game, on the heels of a K-State shot-clock violation where KU had full possession of the ball and turned it back over to K-State. Cartier Diarra is T'd up by no other than Mike Stuart in the 2nd half. KU wins 73-72
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