1, 2, 3, 4, TO (Not Honored), 5: Even A Monkey Could Do It

It shouldn't come down to this. How many times have you heard this? I watched all of the talking heads on ESPN, CBS, TNT, TBS, TruTV, The Food Network, and any other network the NCAA decided was worthy of their hardwood spring classic. Were it Kansas vs. Northern Illinois, I'd agree wholeheartedly. However, this was Texas (4) vs. Arizona (5), two teams with identical records and pretty evenly matched.  These games usually do come down to moments like these. Sadly, the officials became the focal point once again. This is not their best of years. Follow along after the jump...

A single possession game with roughly 10 seconds left to play. It is here in this moment, that fossils officials must do their best. It is here that doing one's best should include being able to count to five with one arm and watch for the time-out call simultaneously from the player in-bounding the ball. The official blew it. Plain and simple. Watch for yourself:

The official hands off the ball, and immediately begins his five count. There are four counts prior to the Texas player calling time-out. Then, inexplicably, he gives the signal for a five count and awards the ball to Arizona. I've heard multiple descriptions and explanations. Some officials begin their count when stepping backwards and then the arm going down would be two. I've clocked that action here and there is simply not enough time between those two moves. It's been said that he could be barking one count with his Listerine testing factory while arm counting at the same time. But, wouldn't those two actions need to be, oh I don't know, in freaking sync? Teams rely on the officials to be competent, consistent, and they really hope the official can count to five. For crying out loud, monkeys can count to five.

Any way you slice this, the ref botched the call. This was not an interpretation of traveling or him needing to discern between a block or charging call. This was elementary mathematics: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. When a player signals for a time-out prior to five being called, it's honored. Here it wasn't. There should be ramifications here for this official. Sadly, he will probably be on the court next weekend. I understand that people make mistakes. For example, Chris Webber calling timeout in 1993 when Michigan did not have any at their disposal is a mental mistake that cost his team possession of the basketball and essentially sealed the victory for North Carolina.

Listen, officials cannot afford mental mistakes at these junctures. This is why they review whether a shot was released prior to the game clock expiring via the video feed. They just want to get the call correct. Tell me one good reason why this should not have been done here? I've clocked this debacle of a call: 4.4 seconds have elapsed when Cory Joseph signals for timeout. Those five seconds are as important as the game clock. This cannot be a judgment call. Not in this situation and not on this stage. The Longhorns deserved better. Oh, and I am not homering here. There are countless articles that support this stance. Here is one from Rivals.

I hate it when the officials become the centerpiece and focal point for a game. If Richard Cartmell could count to five properly, they wouldn't be in this case. It's not hard: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.