Higgins Missed Calls Thread 2005-2017

[Wildcat Sheli]

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!

 

[Smashcat]

They need to archive that material in the Bad Ref Hall of Fame.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Wow man. Scary. But nice work. I applaud your dedication.

 

[LeonThe Camel]

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.

 

[Rupp'sRunt]

You sir win researcher of the day. Pick up your prize at the door

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

I applaud your dedication.

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.

 

[brian.mikeson]

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.

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

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.

That's not good enough. These guys don't need to be calling ANY game. Officials should have no room for bias.

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

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.

 

[StevieJFTW07]

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.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Here's one:

 

[Jollyroger22]

It's not just UK. Remember this no call during the WVU-Duke 2010 Final Four game where De'Sean Butler was injured. You can even hear Bob Huggins call him out on it to his face.

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

It's not just UK. Remember this no call during the WVU-Duke 2010 Final Four game where De'Sean Butler was injured. You can even hear Bob Huggins call him out on it to his face.

True! From what I understand Huggins and Higgins do not exactly get along. And I believe Cal and Bob Huggins are pretty good friends, too.

 

[Jollyroger22]

True! From what I understand Huggins and Higgins do not exactly get along. And I believe Cal and Bob Huggins are pretty good friends, too.

No doubt. It's clear the guy is in the tank for UNC and Duke, and he has it in for particular coaches.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

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.

Perfect post. Dead on.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

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.

How about the up and down he did at the top of the key in the second half?! Unreal.

 

[howercat]

No doubt $$$ exchanging hands somewhere with this guy. Been watching this stuff too long for it to be just a few bad calls

 

[UKCatnNC]

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!!

 

[Mime-Is-Money]

Higgins was on the OJ jury

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

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.

(Edited to include another article: http://kentuckysportsradio.com/basketball-2/weve-gotta-do-something-about-these-zebras-man/ )

I know the BBN will raise our voices about how Higgins has officiated UK games.

 

[Rupp'sRunt]

It's not just UK. Remember this no call during the WVU-Duke 2010 Final Four game where De'Sean Butler was injured. You can even hear Bob Huggins call him out on it to his face.

I've always respected Huggins, This makes me like him more.

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

I've always respected Huggins, This makes me like him more.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/sports/ncaabasketball/04game2.html

I think we're all in agreement with what Bob Huggins sarcastically said to John Higgins: "They (Duke) don't foul, do they, John. . . they don't foul."

 

[westerncat]

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

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

The good folks at Ky Crazies have an article featuring some of the famous calls and no-calls: http://kentuckycrazies.com/detailed-video-john-higgins-calls-kentucky-video/

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

Earlier we talked about the tension between Higgins and Huggins. On Sunday, this tweet was posted by Jeffrey Cobb, who covers recruiting news for WVU.

www.twitter.com/Jeffery_Cobb/status/846139479102554112

 

[YaySports]

How about the up and down he did at the top of the key in the second half?! Unreal.

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.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

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.

Did he travel? I only saw it live. I plan on rewatching the game.

 

[YaySports]

Did he travel? I only saw it live. I plan on rewatching the game.

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

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

A quick check over at https://phillyref.com/basketball/postseasonmen.html shows Higgins has officiated every Final Four since 2010, except one: 2012.

Ah, 2012. Now that was a year!

 

[ukalum1988]

Funny that Higgins lives in a mansion in Omaha with a pool and guesthouse. Something not quite right here.

Who knew that the roofing industry could be so lucrative?

 

[UKCatnNC]

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.

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!!

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

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.

 

[UKCatnNC]

Higgins didn't miss many calls. - He chose to ignore them; or to call them incorrectly. He has put himself above the game. GO CATS!!

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

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.

 

[sluggercatfan]

A quick check over at https://phillyref.com/basketball/postseasonmen.html shows Higgins has officiated every Final Four since 2010, except one: 2012.

Ah, 2012. Now that was a year!

He will also be there this year.

 

[sluggercatfan]

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

Even my 12 & 13 year grandsons were yelling this...good grief.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Higgins was at the Lincoln assassination and said Booth was trying to shoot a bat about to attack Lincoln. No foul.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

A quick check over at https://phillyref.com/basketball/postseasonmen.html shows Higgins has officiated every Final Four since 2010, except one: 2012.

Ah, 2012. Now that was a year!

Phew! We dodged that bullet. KU would have shot 20 more FTs had he been there.

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

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

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

There has been good discussion over at https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/...as-is-no-secret-seth-greenberg-agrees.232338/ Post 32 and onward of the 2010 Sweet Sixteen Game against Cornell.

Hopefully, we'll get a summary up on here about that game, too.