Baylor head basketball coach Scott Drew’s first-career ejection indirectly stems from Big 12 referees not wanting to lose their jobs. The conference started to grade officials this year, so they are trying to do exactly what they are told as best as they can.
Thus, an ejection was issued on Saturday. Let’s break it down!
Drew, who had never been thrown out of a game before, received two technical fouls for leaving the coaching box. Two techs warrants an ejection.
Everybody in the building, including Drew, was baffled by the decision. Athletic director Mack Rhoades went scorched earth on the officiating during his postgame press conference. (He was fined $25,000 and received a public reprimand from the conference.)
For Drew to be tossed for something so insignificant was extremely controversial.
Very few people agreed that it was warranted. Coaches leave their box all the time. Rarely do they get called for a technical foul, let alone two technical fouls.
It was all the Big 12’s fault. The conference’s coordinator of officials sent a memo to all coaches and referees in mid-January. Sideline behavior was the biggest point of emphasis.
Here's the memo obtained by CBS Sports—sent by Big 12's coordinator of officials—to all coaches + refs: "Bench decorum has become a pressing issue + must be addressed. Situations where head coaches are clearly on the court .. are playing 'defense' on players near their sideline." pic.twitter.com/8y3Ou1yOB0
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) February 6, 2024
Referees were told to make the coaching box a priority. Drew was ejected for barely leaving the coaching box while pleading to lead official Jeb Hartness. It was a questionable call, to say the least.
Hartness made the decision because the Big 12 told him too. Plus, he was being watched.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark was in the house. Hartness may have felt additional pressure to do what he was told by the conference in a very literal and deliberate manner.
This is also the first year in which Big 12 officials are being formally graded, according to Matt Norlander of CBS. An “observer” is watching their every move and every call.
Hartness was being graded. He was told to be more cognizant of the coaching box.
Perhaps Hartness was so strict on Drew in regard to the coaching box because he wanted to get a good grade in front of the commissioner? The math adds up!