SEC women's basketball coaches target officiating

DESTIN, Fla. - SEC women's basketball has upgraded its television package. Now, it wants to upgrade its officiating.

Increasing exposure and improving officiating were the major topics of conversation among the women's basketball coaches at the SEC spring meetings Wednesday.

Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said ESPN would televise 32 regular-season SEC games in 2009-10 and Comcast would televise eight more.

"It's the best package we've ever had," Summitt said. "ESPN said they would make a commitment and they have."

Georgia coach Andy Landers said the package "clearly makes us the leader in women's basketball exposure."

The coaches apparently aren't as excited about the state of officiating.

"I have been concerned about officiating for the last three or four years, but more in the last couple," Summitt said. "I feel like we've got some great people right now as far as women's basketball (officiating) is concerned. But we need a lot of young officials coming in. We need to give them a chance."

"You've got to be in great shape. This game right now is so fast and physical, you've got to keep up with the game."

Summitt said it's up to the conference officials coordinator to hold officials accountable.

"We're accountable as coaches," she said. "If we don't win, we'll get fired. So if we can't improve our level of officiating, someone may have to go.

"I know from being at AAU tournaments, there are a lot of good young officials."

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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