The recent ejection of Baylor basketball coach Scott Drew during a game against Iowa State has sparked criticism towards Big 12 officials. The incident, which marked the first time in Drew's 21-year career that he was ejected, occurred in the midst of a tightly contested battle between the 18th-ranked Bears and the 12th-ranked Cyclones.
With approximately 11 and a half minutes remaining in the game, Drew received his second technical foul, leading to his ejection. Shortly after, the Baylor bench was hit with another technical foul. During this brief span of time, Iowa State took advantage of the opportunities at the free-throw line, sinking all eight attempts. This proved to be a pivotal moment in the game, as the Cyclones' subsequent 20-0 run propelled them into the lead. However, Baylor managed to rally back and secure a narrow 70-68 victory.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the officials' performance, Baylor Athletic Director Mack Rhoades criticized the Big 12 in a post-game statement. Rhoades called the events of the night an embarrassment for the league, believing that the officiating did not measure up to the high standards of the conference. While acknowledging the presence of great officials in the Big 12, Rhoades stressed that the crew assigned to the Baylor-Iowa State game fell short of expectations.
When questioned about potential actions to address the situation, Rhoades stated that he planned to contact the Big 12 office but expressed uncertainty over the resolution. The Big 12 Commissioner, Brett Yormark, was present at the game, witnessing the unfolding events. The officiating crew included referees Jeb Hartness, Chance Moore, and Christopher Merlo.
Drew, reflecting on the situation, admitted that he was uncertain about the reasons for both of his technical fouls. The first occurred midway through the first half and the second led to his ejection. Frustrated by the lack of explanations throughout the game, Drew emphasized that he would be submitting inquiries to the league for further clarification.
Following the ejection, Rhoades accompanied Drew off the court, and the two watched the rest of the game together on television. As they observed, they could hear the crowd's reactions before seeing the plays that prompted those responses. While relieved that he wasn't the reason for a potential loss, Drew expressed gratitude that his team was able to secure the victory, but acknowledged that he needed to improve and do better moving forward.
In light of this incident, the focus has now shifted towards the Big 12 and their commitment to addressing officiating concerns. Rhoades' criticism highlights the need for improvements within the league, particularly in ensuring that officiating standards align with the competitiveness and quality of the conference. As Baylor celebrates their hard-fought win, it remains to be seen how the Big 12 will respond to the criticisms and work towards providing a higher level of officiating for future games.
