Every year we bitch and complain about how one sided the officiating is, especially in college basketball. I usually chalk it up to homerism and not pay much attention to it. Couple weeks ago, Kansas shot 35 free throws to West Virginia's 2. I can't stand bob thuggins and usually enjoy seeing his teams lose but as I watched the game, I could see how blatant the favoritism was. This weekend I watched Arkansas at Missouri. Missouri really needed this game to get to the big dance. I tried to be be objective but it sure seemed to be two different standards being called. Even the announcers noticed it. A Missouri win would definitely make the SEC look better and probably bring in extra revenue.
I bring all this up to ask the following question, are the refs instructed to favor certain teams or protect certain players by the powers that be or is it strictly coincidental (a hundred times a year)?
I personally think league prestige and money have far more influence than any sense of fair play.