The 2011 Final Four Referees Will Be....

96 NCAA officials started out working 1st and 2nd round games.

12 worked Elite 8 games at the four regional sites.

Here are the 12 Elite 8 Refs:

Mike Eades, Tony Greene, Ted Valentine

Pat Driscoll, Verne Harris, Randy McCall

Karl Hess, Jamie Luckie, Michael Stephens

Antinio Petty, Doug Shows, Doug Sirmons

Looking at data I've compiled and experience and statistics of these refs, here is my guess for the Final Four officials we will have in Houston for the semi-final games.

Mike Eades - He refs games mostly in the ACC and Big South with a few Big 10 game thrown in.  He is known for calling roughly the same amount of fouls on both teams.  Virginia Commonwealth is 2-1 with Eades blowing the whistle this year.  He saw UCONN a couple times this year, Kentucky a few times, and umped Butler's first round win over Old Dominion in the tournament. 

Tony Greene - Greene works mostly SEC and Big East contests.  He's fair with the whistle and doesn't foul many players out.  That could help a Butler or VCU; teams that don't go too deep.  Kentucky was 6-0 in games this season with Eades on the floor.   

Antinio Petty - A solid official who works a lot of Big 10, SEC, and Big XII games.  He does call a lot of fouls and isn't afraid to foul players out.  He was on the floor for the Butler/Pitt game.  He has not called a VCU game this season.

Karl Hess - A very reliable veteran official who has worked 87 games so far this year.  He worked one VCU game early in the season.  The only Butler game he worked was the win over Florida.  He's seen UCONN a bunch and I don't see that he has worked a Kentucky game.

Randy McCall - A very well respected ref who mainly works games in the western half of the country.  Hasn't seen Butler, VCU, or UCONN this season.  That makes him a good choice in my opinion.

Ted Valentine - Ted is a workhorse.  He worked 92 games this season, Big 10 teams know him well.  He worked the VCU/Kansas game and has seen Kentucky.  He has not worked any Butler or UCONN game this season.  Be careful, Ted has a quick whistle when it comes to technicals.

Ted Valentine