The NCAA tournament was terrific again, but it wasn’t the story … again. Critical moments of one of this generation’s most notable games were defined by officials and not players (and this doesn’t even account for a ridiculous charge call when the defensive player was turned, on one foot and falling backward. I’d call it the worst of the season, but Gary Browne drew a charge after he fell against Oklahoma State. Come to think of it, that was the game when an official couldn’t make up his mind an simply ruled a do-over when LeBryan Nash stumbled out of bounds into the official).

Then in the biggest game of the season, the officials made a mess late, had the national head of officiating try to explain it a day later and then needed FOTB Dan Gavitt to clean up that mess a day later to say that, yes, the officials had all the resources they needed to not blow that call. The explanation is so honest and so good: They made up their mind before they needed to. And these are the people who make snap judgments on block and charges, goaltending, traveling, palming, double dribbles, so on and so forth. Officiating is in such a bad place right now, and it has to be repaired.

Trouble is, it’s only part of the problem. Duke’s players and coaches had barely finished cutting down the nets when Sports Illustrated highlighted the obvious and weighed in on a weighty offseason for the college game. Gavitt is a key figure here, too, and he seems optimistic about the coming men’s college basketball oversight committee, a collection of administrators and ideally coaches and players who will have a say in suggesting, shaping and even submitting reform. It’s a think box that’s supposed to work but will meet resistance and outside its closed doors.

People won’t be rushing to join because there are obstacles to progress they realize they won’t be able to clear. But some want to be there, and it takes a specific person to sit at that table. It’s for someone who is opinionated and unapologetic and influential and unconcerned with the black hat others have placed atop his head.

You know where I’m going here, and that guy hopes we’re not alone.

“I would love to be on it,” West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said. “It probably won’t happen, but I would love to be on it.”

Huggins is all the things a coach on that committee ought to be, but while that’s what’s needed, it’s not necessarily what’s desired. Consider this: Freshman guard Daxter Miles said WVU was going to beat Kentucky, and that became a reason to skewer Miles. When the Mountaineers lost by 39 points, Miles was obligated to face the media. So, too, was every other player and coach.

When an official screws up a call or a game, he has to face one reporter in as controlled an environment as can be imagined. Huggins has long believed that if coaches and players are made to answer questions about strategy and decisions, maybe officials ought to, too.

That particular idea might never happen, but that kind of abstract thinking is what’s needed and what he offers.

“I think they need to hear different opinions,” Huggins said. “I just don’t know if they want to.”