OT: Dee Kantner will join ESPN as a women’s basketball rules analyst.

[BRS24]

ESPN hires longtime referee as rules analyst for women’s college basketball

Dee Kantner, who has officiated 26 Final Fours since 1984, will join ESPN as a women’s basketball rules analyst.

www.sbnation.com

Kantner will be working with ESPN’s top women’s college basketball broadcast crew, which will again feature Ryan Ruocco as the lead play-by-play voice, Rebecca Lobo providing color commentary, and Holly Rowe reporting from the sidelines. Kantner’s first game with them will be on Tuesday when Louisville takes on UConn at the relocated Armed Forces Classic in Annapolis, Maryland.​

Take a deep breath, y'all. This might be an interesting ride this season, and I for one, will be interested in how she translates from the court to behind a mic.

 

[Cuango]

Better behind the mike than making calls in UConn games! Every UConn fan (and player) should be happy to hear this news!

 

[Centerstream]

Hopefully the announcing team won't make a habit of asking for her expertise very often. Once per game is one too many...🙂
Seriously, I hope that they don't use her very often...very rarely will any rules analyst disagree with the game official unless it's a blatant missed call.

 

[CL82]

Rebecca: I'm not seeing how that was a foul based upon what I'm seeing on the replay, but let's go to our rules expert Dee Kantner. Dee what do you see?

Dee: Well Rebecca it's actually easier than it would seem at first glance. One of the two individuals involved in the play is a UConn player, so I just would call the foul on them. It simplifies the decision-making process, which helps with pace of play.

 

[Bone Dog]

I have some hope that she will turn out to be an interesting voice, especially if she's not limited to being a "rules analyst." Sure, there were some calls that looked like mistakes on TV. But she's been doing this a long time. In any event, she seems a lot better than Joe V.

Plus, it would be worth it to hear her talk about past greats, since she's seen a lot of them up close. Wouldn't you like to hear her take on Nika, for example?

 

[Centerstream]

Dee insisted that she be at the game she is the analyst for. This will probably work until the Big Dance starts.
I found it interesting that there is no mention of Violet Palmer being the rules analyst during last season's Big Dance, especially the National Championship game.

 

[BBallF]

Rebecca: I'm not seeing how that was a foul based upon what I'm seeing on the replay, but let's go to our rules expert Dee Kantner. Dee what do you see?

Dee: Well Rebecca it's actually easier than it would seem at first glance. One of the two individuals involved in the play is a UConn player, so I just would call the foul on them. It simplifies the decision-making process, which helps with pace of play.

I am still laughing at this. So true.

 

[OLD MAN UCO]

The good thing about this is she is leaving the court the bad thing is another official who replaces her be very bad,

 

[Bald Husky]

I think a lot of teams are happy that she has retired from officiating. She used to be one of the best, but the last few years she has really fallen off her game. It didn't work out for her in the NBA, but she did have a good career in the NCAA. Good luck to her, and us.

 

[Kurebeach50]

I always liked Dee Kantner, she was a WHOLE lot better than Sally Bell and her ilk !!

 

[Viet Vet]

I had the privilege of meeting Dee Kantner when I was an up-and-coming high school official in the 1990s. She was/is a class act, and highly regarded official. UConn fan criticism notwithstanding (note I am both a UConn fan and alumnus) she conducts herself with dignity, competence and professionalism on the court.

 

[Forego]

I have some hope that she will turn out to be an interesting voice, especially if she's not limited to being a "rules analyst." Sure, there were some calls that looked like mistakes on TV. But she's been doing this a long time. In any event, she seems a lot better than Joe V.

Plus, it would be worth it to hear her talk about past greats, since she's seen a lot of them up close. Wouldn't you like to hear her take on Nika, for example?

I would like to hear her take on Nika, but I would love to hear Nika’s take on her.

 

[Vowelguy]

I love having a rules analyst — it’s been a great improvement in coverage especially for FB. But I didn’t think Kantner was particularly good at it. Maybe a learning curve ….

 

[DefenseBB]

Rebecca: I'm not seeing how that was a foul based upon what I'm seeing on the replay, but let's go to our rules expert Dee Kantner. Dee what do you see?

Dee: Well Rebecca it's actually easier than it would seem at first glance. One of the two individuals involved in the play is a UConn player, so I just would call the foul on them. It simplifies the decision-making process, which helps with pace of play.

OMG, this is an absolutely a TIRED TROPE. Dee was an excellent official as evidenced by all the games the NCAAT allocated to her over the years. Contrary to far too many people on this forum, there is NO CONSPIRACY AGAINST UConn by referees-Dee, ESPN-Creme or anyone else.

I actually found her to be one of the best WCBB officials. Many want to point to her failed NBA career which is absurd to use that against her. If she elected to ref in the WNBA, she would immediately be one of their best (mostly because the rest are so bad).

I know many don’t like contrary views posted against populist opinions but maybe a bit deeper thought should occur and be receptive to contrary views, you might learn something.

 

[BRS24]

I love having a rules analyst — it’s been a great improvement in coverage especially for FB. But I didn’t think Kantner was particularly good at it. Maybe a learning curve ….

IMHO, sitting behind a monitor with the rule book at hand, so to speak, is a different activity than making calls live. As a former youth soccer ref, I was always better at the testing and analysis during classes, than I was in actual games.

 

[Bone Dog]

IMHO, sitting behind a monitor with the rule book at hand, so to speak, is a different activity than making calls live. As a former youth soccer ref, I was always better at the testing and analysis during classes, than I was in actual games.

As a former youth soccer coach who occasionally reffed, I can attest to this — live reffing is hard. I imagine it’s much more difficult to ref D1 basketball games. Like by at least one order of magnitude.

 

[CL82]

OMG, this is an absolutely a TIRED TROPE. Dee was an excellent official as evidenced by all the games the NCAAT allocated to her over the years. Contrary to far too many people on this forum, there is NO CONSPIRACY AGAINST UConn by referees-Dee, ESPN-Creme or anyone else.

I actually found her to be one of the best WCBB officials. Many want to point to her failed NBA career which is absurd to use that against her. If she elected to ref in the WNBA, she would immediately be one of their best (mostly because the rest are so bad).

I know many don’t like contrary views posted against populist opinions but maybe a bit deeper thought should occur and be receptive to contrary views, you might learn something.

Didn't know that you read the board Dee. Good luck in your retirement!

 

[Crossover]

OMG, this is an absolutely a TIRED TROPE. Dee was an excellent official as evidenced by all the games the NCAAT allocated to her over the years. Contrary to far too many people on this forum, there is NO CONSPIRACY AGAINST UConn by referees-Dee, ESPN-Creme or anyone else.

I actually found her to be one of the best WCBB officials. Many want to point to her failed NBA career which is absurd to use that against her. If she elected to ref in the WNBA, she would immediately be one of their best (mostly because the rest are so bad).

I know many don’t like contrary views posted against populist opinions but maybe a bit deeper thought should occur and be receptive to contrary views, you might learn something.

I agree that Kantor was a good ref, and that neither she, nor Creme, nor ESPN is anti-UConn. However, the whiny and accusatory tone of your last paragraph is childish and off-putting.

 

[YKCornelius]

OMG, this is an absolutely a TIRED TROPE. Dee was an excellent official as evidenced by all the games the NCAAT allocated to her over the years. Contrary to far too many people on this forum, there is NO CONSPIRACY AGAINST UConn by referees-Dee, ESPN-Creme or anyone else.

I actually found her to be one of the best WCBB officials. Many want to point to her failed NBA career which is absurd to use that against her. If she elected to ref in the WNBA, she would immediately be one of their best (mostly because the rest are so bad).

I know many don’t like contrary views posted against populist opinions but maybe a bit deeper thought should occur and be receptive to contrary views, you might learn something.

To pile on, what is fascinating in regards to Dee Kantner, is that many long-time posters on McGraw's Bench (Notre Dame) and VolNation (Tennessee), are completely convinced that Dee Kantner was in UConn's pocket. These posters would come out of the shadows with visceral reactions anytime she reffed any big game involving their respective teams, and certainly when UConn took the floor against their programs.

Personally, I have always though Dee was a very good ref who never was fazed by the enormity of a match-up. In fact, for the longest time when she was in charge of referee assignments - either in the leagues she was contracted with or for cross-conference games, she would often schedule herself to work the big games.

If I had any gripe with her, it would be that in many occasions she did not try to present herself as indifferent to the home crowd. Instead, she would often be overly demonstrative with making routine calls or, in quite a few instances, be demonstrative in conveying why she did not make what appeared to be an obvious missed call. Head shakes and nods, hand gestures and arm movements that were unnecessary and brought further in-game attention to herself. Sorta like she was explaining herself to the crowd - and the appearance of playing to the crowd is never a good thing for a basketball official, in my opinion.

I am looking forward to hearing whatever insights she can add to the game she works. I just hope it is during breaks in play, and not while action is occurring on the court. We have too many in-game sidebars as is (Holly Rowe, I'm looking at you).

 

[Gael]

Opinions on everything are legion. Factually, Dee Kantner's reffing accomplishments, accolades and decorations are numerous.

An engineer by academic training and a bee keeper by hobby, Dee Kantner:

- Reffed in the NCAA from 1984 until 2024, and periodically in the Continental Basketball Association.

- During her NCAA career, she earned (competitively) the honor of reffing in 26 Final Fours and 16 National Championship games.

- Won the Naismith Award for Women's Official of the Year in 1997.

- In 1997, was named one of the first two female refs ever for the NBA. She served as an NBA ref from 1997-2002 (when fired).

- Was selected as first WNBA Supervisor of Officials in 1997. Served in that capacity from 1997-1998 and again from 2005-2016. Was also the WNBA Director of Referee Development from 2003-2004.

- Was Supervisor of Officials of the SEC from 2000-2002.

- Has extensive FIBA reffing experience, including the 1994 and 1998 Women's World Championships and the 2000 Olympics.

- In 2023, won the highest honor the Women's Basketball Coaches Association can bestow, the Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award, which is named after the legendary Senda Berenson, who introduced women's basketball at Smith College in 1892, a year after Naismith invented the sport.

My opinion of Dee Kantner as a ref, which counts for nought among the legions, was always high.

 

[Gael]

For anyone interested, here's a further breakdown of some research on Dee Kantner with particular emphasis on the UConn NC games she reffed and the number of fouls called on each team in those games.

Kantner began women's NCAA D1 reffing in 1984, and within eight years (1992) she was selected to ref in the Final Four. Final Four ref selection is made by several competitive metrics and recommendation criteria. Thereafter, Kantner was selected to ref in the Final Four every year for the rest of her career, other than from 1998-2002 when she was reffing 247 NBA games.

In total, Kantner reffed in 26 Final Fours and 16 NC games. Seven of those NC games involved UConn, all won by UConn. Here is a list of those games, followed in each case by how many fouls were called on UConn and the opponent.

1995 - UConn vs. Tenn: 18-22
2004 - UConn vs. Tenn: 10-18
2009 - UConn vs. L'ville: 13-16
2010 - UConn vs. Stanford: 9-20
2014 - UConn vs. Notre Dame: 12-14
2015 - UConn vs. Notre Dame: 10-9
2016 - UConn vs. Syracuse: 10-19

Total fouls called by Kantner ref crew, UConn vs. Opponents = 82-118

Kantner reffed many, many other UConn games, of course, but the task of tracking them down would be Herculean, if not Sisyphean.

 

[YKCornelius]

For anyone interested, here's a further breakdown of some research on Dee Kantner with particular emphasis on the UConn NC games she reffed and the number of fouls called on each team in those games.

Kantner began women's NCAA D1 reffing in 1984, and within eight years (1992) she was selected to ref in the Final Four. Final Four ref selection is made by several competitive metrics and recommendation criteria. Thereafter, Kantner was selected to ref in the Final Four every year for the rest of her career, other than from 1998-2002 when she was reffing 247 NBA games.

In total, Kantner reffed in 26 Final Fours and 16 NC games. Seven of those NC games involved UConn, all won by UConn. Here is a list of those games, followed in each case by how many fouls were called on UConn and the opponent.

1995 - UConn vs. Tenn: 18-22
2004 - UConn vs. Tenn: 10-18
2009 - UConn vs. L'ville: 13-16
2010 - UConn vs. Stanford: 9-20
2014 - UConn vs. Notre Dame: 12-14
2015 - UConn vs. Notre Dame: 10-9
2016 - UConn vs. Syracuse: 10-19

Total fouls called by Kantner ref crew, UConn vs. Opponents = 82-118

Kantner reffed many, many other UConn games, of course, but the task of tracking them down would be Herculean, if not Sisyphean.

Gael, good stuff. A point of clarification: Dee Kantner did not take the court to ref any of the Final Four games last year or the year before. She might have been working at the games in some other capacity, but she didn't take to the court.

I pulled together some DK stats shortly after she officiated UConn's loss to Arizona in the 2021 semis, which saw Boneyarders blowing up on how that game was called. That game, part of the "Bubble in the Alamodrome", was the only UConn NCAA tournament loss that was reffed by Dee Kantner.

Since then, Dee has officiated only one NCAA tournament game involving UConn: last year's Sweet Sixteen win over Oklahoma.

By my calculations, the Huskies were 15-1 in NCAA games officiated by Dee Kantner.

I, for one, am curious to hear her thoughts as the new WCBB Rules Analyst member of the ESPN team.