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Higgins Missed Calls Thread 2005-2017

Wildcat Sheli

Wildcat Sheli

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There have been a number of John Higgins Threads already posted so far. I thought it might be good to have a dedicated Thread to post his missed calls.

First, a little background. . . .

Here’s his record officiating Kentucky games: http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/statistics/Officials/John_Higgins.html

Would like to have his record vs Cal at UMass and Memphis. There’s another Thread about that (https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/threads/higgins-vs-cal-at-umass-memphis.232113/).

Here’s some of the recent Threads on this board related to Higgins:
https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/threads/john-higgins-ref-for-tomorrow.231561/
https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/threads/tubbys-2005-loss-higgins.232114/
https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/threads/decoursy-sporting-news-on-officiating-and-higgins.232051/
https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/threads/cal-calls-out-officials.231957/
https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/threads/tom-leach-pounding-the-refs.232080/
https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/threads/dear-matt-jones.232079/
https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/threads/if-unc-wins-the-title-give-john-higgins.232075/
https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/...st-ky-and-terrible-seeding-towards-uk.231978/
https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/threads/worst-calls-of-the-game.231889/
https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/...ly-called-one-technical-in-7-uk-games.231712/
https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/...icials-for-tonights-game.231093/#post-5781208

To clear up a few misconceptions: No, he did not call a technical in every UK game he officiated. No, we have not lost every game he officiated. No, he is not related to Ellen Calipari, although that is her maiden name. No, he is not related to the famous now-retired referee Tim Higgins. {But he does have a brother named Tim, who also played basketball and was a referee http://www.lopers.com/news/2015/6/8/MBB_0608153516.aspx and http://lopers.com/hof.aspx?hof=206&path=&kiosk=}

But it IS TRUE that we have never won an Elite Eight or Final Four Game that he has officiated. Even the UCLA regular season game he officiated in December had questionable calls. If we win that game, our seeding might have been different.

Here’s an old radio interview where he casually dismisses non-reviewable missed calls: http://kxno.iheart.com/onair/the-morning-rush-52935/referee-john-higgins-talks-dunks-his-14445856/

Here’s a couple feature stories on him:
http://netnebraska.org/article/news/1067762/nebraska-basketball-referee-has-earned-his-stripes
http://www.si.com/college-basketbal...recognized-referee-well-traveled-john-higgins

Some of our biggest tournament losses were games he officiated:
2005 Elite Eight Double Overtime to Michigan State
2011 Final Four loss to UConn
2015 Final Four loss to Wisconsin
2017 Elite Eight to UNC

(A note about 2017 Seeding: Going into the Tournament, in the national polls, UK was ranked #5 and UNC was ranked #6 and #8, as well as UCLA [flipped polls]. In the regular season, UCLA beat us; they were the South's 3 Seed. In the regular season, UK beat UNC; UK was the #2 Seed to UNC's #1 in the South Region. UK faced 3 teams in the Tournament who had 30 wins; according to Corey Price, this was a "first" in NCAA Tournament History).

Every one of those losses Higgins officiated were controversial and he is a common denominator. These were games where a “little” call –or no-call—here or there made a big difference.

If anyone has video clips or still shots of missed calls, let’s post them here!
 
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LeonThe Camel

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This is getting ridiculous. You could play the game back in slow motion and catch every single missed call. You know what you end up with.

Brad Calipari playing Stilman White 1 on 1 for the game.
 
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ArtSmass

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I don't know if it was Higgins's call, but I'd sure like to see the video of Jackson's steps after he gathered in the 'over the top' pass before he put in those 2 important points w/ about 30sec left to play.
 
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BigBlueCatNation

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Wildcat Sheli said:
After Wisconsin, there was so much outcry I thought, "never again!" But yet, here we sit today . . . . As Cal said, the visual proof is "all on tape!" If we can post the proof, maybe there will be enough evidence so that he will never call another UK game.
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That's not good enough. These guys don't need to be calling ANY game. Officials should have no room for bias.
 
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Wildcat Sheli

Wildcat Sheli

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I noticed MrsTylerKSR from Kentucky Sports Radio tweeted this out earlier, "Calipari yelled a lot of things at Higgins last night, but the one thing that will stick with me is, 'It’s too big of a game for this.'"

AGREE! As Cal said, "It's all on tape!" If you have video or screen shots of Higgins' handiwork, please post them here.
 
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MarkPftw

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Some people want to blame the loss on the 12-0 run that UNC went on at the end of the game..BUT the truth is..UNC would have never had that opportunity if the game was called fairly..especially in the 1st half. The game had a lot of runs by BOTH teams, the end of the game was just UNC's turn to go on a run. Plus, UK had emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted themselves having to dig out of the hole John Higgins dug them into..that probably explains the 12-0 run by UNC at the end of the game.
 
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MegaBlue05

MegaBlue05

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Here's one:

 
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Cowtown Cat

Cowtown Cat

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StevieJFTW07 said:
Some people want to blame the loss on the 12-0 run that UNC went on at the end of the game..BUT the truth is..UNC would have never had that opportunity if the game was called fairly..especially in the 1st half. The game had a lot of runs by BOTH teams, the end of the game was just UNC's turn to go on a run. Plus, UK had emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted themselves having to dig out of the hole John Higgins dug them into..that probably explains the 12-0 run by UNC at the end of the game.
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Perfect post. Dead on.
 
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Cowtown Cat

Cowtown Cat

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brian.mikeson said:
I don't know if it was Higgins's call, but I'd sure like to see the video of Jackson's steps after he gathered in the 'over the top' pass before he put in those 2 important points w/ about 30sec left to play.
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How about the up and down he did at the top of the key in the second half?! Unreal.
 
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UKCatNnc

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Thanks for posting Wildcat Sheli. I am dumbfounded that such a biased official is allowed to call a game against the team he is so biased against. I am very frustrated with this. It is much worse than giving us such bad bracket placements. GO CATS!!
 
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Wildcat Sheli

Wildcat Sheli

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westerncat

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If you watch all of the bad call that he made I agree that someone is getting that money is being passed to someone.
 
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Cowtown Cat

Cowtown Cat

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YaySports said:
I thought i was he only person who realized that was a walk. Basketball would be a crazy game if you were allowed to decide you didnt wanna shoot while in the air.
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Did he travel? I only saw it live. I plan on rewatching the game.
 
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UKCatNnc

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Wildcat Sheli said:
Drew Franklin of KSR has posted this article entitled, "No More John Higgins, Please"

http://kentuckysportsradio.com/basketball-2/no-more-john-higgins-please/

Has some real-time tweets, gifs, photos and a run-down of some of the calls in last night's heartbreaker.

I know the BBN will raise our voices to make sure Higgins never officiates another UK game.
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I was going to click the like button; however, I don't like anything about this pos. So I will thank you for your effort and for continuing to publicize this corrupt pos referee. GO CATS!!
 
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Wildcat Sheli

Wildcat Sheli

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Just a few more post-season Higgins and Cal stats:

In 8 seasons, Cal has led our 'Cats to the Elite Eight 6 times (I hope we appreciate how spoiled we are, by the way!). Here's Cal's record:

Elite Eight Game: 4-2 (1 loss officiated by Higgins)
Final Four Semifinal Game: 2-2 (both losses officiated by Higgins)
Championship Games: 1-1 (Higgins did not officiate either game)

So in our 5 losses under Cal from the Elite Eight to the Championship Game, Higgins has officiated 3 of them. If we count the Elite Eights and Final Four Semifinals only, he officiated 3 of the 4 losses.
 
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Wildcat Sheli

Wildcat Sheli

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Want to add that Rex Chapman is not letting this issue go. Two nights later, he's still lamenting the officiating via his twitter account @rexchapman . This issue has brought the BBN together. We may be misunderstood, but after 2005, 2011, 2015 and 2017 we can no longer stay silent about Higgins' officiating debacles. Never again!

Here's his tweet after the game.

 
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sluggercatfan

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YaySports said:
Well he jumps, drops the ball in mid air, and touches it back on the ground which i think is a walk. I could be wrong and it may be up n down. Regardless it shoulda been a TO
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Even my 12 & 13 year grandsons were yelling this...good grief.
 
Wildcat Sheli

Wildcat Sheli

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Here's a screenshot of when Higgins pointed at Dom during the game, one of the many odd moments of the game:

 
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