The Pac-12 conference has reprimanded Washington men’s basketball coach Lorenzo Romar for critical comments made regarding the officials after Oregon State’s Stephen Thompson Jr. made a three at the buzzer to defeat the Huskies.
The call by @MEPOSU on the game-winning shot Wednesday, matched up with the video.
Just special.#GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/zgGqD9BNvL
— The Beavs (@BeaverAthletics) February 26, 2016
According to the News Tribune’s Christian Caple, Romar had two issues with the play.
The first regarded whether the clock started on time. The second claim was that Thompson had traveled.
The Pac-12 reprimanded him for his comments, per Caple:
“Romar made comments to the media questioning the officiating during Washington’s game with Oregon State Wednesday night, and subsequent public comments that did not support the Conference’s statement regarding its review of the end of game situation.”
“The Pac-12 has specific rules that prohibit our coaches from making public comments about officiating. We have an obligation to our membership to enforce the Conference rules which they have approved. As a part of our officiating program, there is a protocol in place for our coaches to provide feedback directly to the coordinator of officials.”
While the Pac-12 is within its rights to not want their officials criticized, it would be awfully difficult for someone in Romar’s position to stay quiet, especially if he saw two potential problems ignored.
The win-loss record is a huge part of what a coach will be judged on, and in close games the referees can have a lot to do with the outcome, as he feels they did in this instance.