During the first-round women's NCAA Tournament game between NC State and Chattanooga, an official, Tommi Paris, was removed at halftime due to a 'background conflict.' The NCAA stated the decision came after discovering Paris had a master's degree from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, presenting a potential conflict of interest. This move is unusual as officials are typically only replaced during a game due to injury. The incident has sparked discussions on the NCAA's vetting process for officials, especially since Paris had also officiated the Chattanooga-Mississippi State game in December.
BLOWING THE WHISTLE: NCAA referee Tommi Paris was pulled from a women’s tournament game between N.C. State and Chattanooga at halftime on Saturday over an undisclosed "background conflict," the organization said. https://t.co/bBnvEOBDiO https://t.co/5iTCXKnsD0
Referee pulled at halftime of NCAA Tournament game over conflict of interest https://t.co/mKujfolbSs https://t.co/thbiosDFVA
A Chattanooga alumnus refereed the first half of the university's NCAA Women's Tournament matchup against N.C. State on Saturday. The official was removed from the game after halftime, the NCAA confirmed in a statement. https://t.co/oZf7U9eLA5
Referee pulled at halftime of NCAA Tournament game over conflict of interest https://t.co/Pc0XitueqF
NCAA ref pulled from women's tournament game at halftime over 'background conflict' https://t.co/RlvkW4g6Jc
The NCAA changed one of the officials at the half of the Chattanooga-N.C. State game Saturday because of a background conflict. https://t.co/W724sm1K3L
Referee removed from NCAA Tournament game due to 'background conflict' https://t.co/hi5WpsnUzW
NCAA's decision to removes a referee DURING a March Madness game explained https://t.co/be8PWlvgqk https://t.co/rg4BtHfUop
NCAA removes a referee DURING a March Madness game as it's revealed official has a 'background conflict' https://t.co/CbtwdXkzQo https://t.co/1gFVo04kBW
The NCAA changed one of the officials at halftime of the Chattanooga-NC State women's tournament game on Saturday because of a "background conflict." https://t.co/24UibKriAx
NCAA ripped for lazy officiating controversy https://t.co/nuqS91iVIn https://t.co/K0rKafEDp9
NCAA removes March Madness referee mid-game over ‘background conflict’ controversy https://t.co/u3t61t6cvG https://t.co/4U8wXtP1eE
An official was pulled at halftime of Saturday’s NC State-Chattanooga first-round women’s NCAA Tournament game, a change that typically only happens if an official is injured during the course of the game. More from @ChantelJennings ⤵️ https://t.co/TKzlJhj1yA
NCAA removes game official at halftime because of background conflict https://t.co/VnBldvojqY
NCAA replaced official during NC State vs. Chattanooga halftime in women's March Madness https://t.co/VcS6iOJZG2
The NCAA removed an official midway through the NC State-Chattanooga first-round game today because of a "background conflict." (She has a degree from Chattanooga.) But the ref also officiated Chattanooga-Mississippi State in December, too. https://t.co/KE0IKs9CYF
NCAA removed an official at halftime of NC State women’s tournament game. Here’s why https://t.co/HRAv3WU67p
NCAA removes ref from NC State - Chattanooga women's game at halftime after discovering where she went to school https://t.co/y3EGEvq2Zi https://t.co/GHhOUk0ftU
One of the game officials was switched at halftime of the NC State/Chattanooga WBB game because of a “background conflict” The official in question, after a quick search online, appears to have a master’s degree from UT Chattanooga. https://t.co/0MuAnsjf3v
One of the referees in today's NC State-Chattanooga game was switched out at halftime due to "a background conflict" Turns out she is from Chattanooga and got her master's degree at UTC https://t.co/YNPbNibI51
The NCAA had assigned a WBB official to a game in which she had a conflict of interest and this was not fixed until HALFTIME of said game. https://t.co/mclZypQw6E
So @tnBobSutton noted a switch of officials at halftime of Chat/NC State. NCAA says it learned "after the game had started that Ump 2 Tommi Paris had a background conflict that, if known, would prevent her from working the game." I googled: Paris has a Masters from Chattanooga