LET’S say up front that in 24 years of covering high school, college and pro sports, never once have I seen a game decided by officials. Never.
So for the record, St. John’s hasn’t lost a game this season because of the guys in striped shirts. Nor have the refs done anything to make first year Red Storm coach Norm Roberts’ job any easier, which is the way it should be.
Having stated that, there have been several games this season, including a few recent ones, in which Roberts has been exasperated by calls or non-calls. Which leads us to wonder if first-year coaches have their jobs made harder while they establish themselves.
“With the veteran officials, no,” said one Big East coach who asked to remain anonymous. “The ‘A’ list officials are too good. Now some of the younger officials, they might be a little intimidated by veteran coaches.”
Roberts got called for his second technical of the season in the Red Storm’s 83-69 loss at Syracuse last week. St. John’s was trailing 58-48 when the Red Storm forced Hakim Warrick to beat the 35-second shot clock.
Syracuse’s Demetris Nichols appeared to shove Lamont Hamilton from behind in going for the rebound. No foul was called. Nichols got the ball. A subsequent foul was called on Eugene Lawrence and Roberts went ballistic.
He stomped his feet and clapped his hands, causing the inexpensive watch he got as a gift from the St. John’s alumni association to break and fly off his wrist. Veteran official Jim Burr, thinking Roberts had thrown the watch, hit Roberts with a technical.
It was Burr who at halftime showed his class. He observed a trio of drunken Syracuse fans berating the St. John’s players as they warmed up. Burr ordered them to return to their seats or he’d have them tossed from the Carrier Dome. Nice call.
“Every coach has gone through a period where he felt he had to earn his stripes,” said another Big East coach. “Jim Boeheim probably felt that way 25 years ago. Is that the way it really is or is it just the way you feel as the new guy on the block? Probably a little of both.”
In the Red Storm’s 58-47 loss to Duke, Roberts spent a good portion of the final minute of the game lambasting referee Les Jones, who’s primarily an ACC official. It was Jones who called an offensive foul on Hamilton with 1:07 left when the Red Storm had a chance to cut into a 52-45 deficit.
“Not one call!” bellowed Roberts. “All day long, not one call! Just one!”
St. John’s (9-16 overall, 3-11 in the Big East) plays at Providence (12-16, 2-12) tonight in the team’s final road game of the season. The Dunkin Donuts Center, aka The Nut House, is one of the toughest road venues. Roberts shouldn’t count on getting many calls.
“I don’t think it’s a question of getting or not getting calls,” said Roberts. “I think it’s a matter of becoming more familiar with the league and them becoming more familiar with us. Officials know what Duke is going to bring to the table, or Syracuse or Connecticut. In my situation, they’re trying to adapt to our style.”
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ST. JOHN’S at PROVIDENCE – Tonight 7:30 – MSG; ESPN (1050)
