Referee Ted Valentine. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Referee returns to NCAA Tournament for first time since 2019 following two-year ban

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 3/18/24

It was a different world the last time Ted Valentine worked an NCAA tournament.

The longtime college basketball official will be making his return to March Madness this week for the first time in five years, prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 men's and women's tournaments were cancelled, and after originally being scheduled to work in 2021, Valentine was ruled out that year due to contract tracing. He was also not allowed to work March Madness in 2022 or 2023.

Referee Ted Valentine will work the NCAA tournament this season for the first time since 2019, source told @TheFieldOf68.

Valentine was one of the officials that was sent home after contact tracing in 2021, and was not allowed to work the last 2 NCAA tourneys by the NCAA due to…
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 18, 2024

Valentine was one of six referees ruled out for the 2021 tournament, joining John Higgins, Roger Ayers, John Gaffney, Kipp Kissinger and Ray Natili.

Per The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman, the officials "were told to arrive by Sunday night and check into their hotel, but multiple officials said that the rooms weren’t ready upon their arrival, nor was there any food."

The group was allowed to then leave for dinner, as the referees went to Harry and Izzy's steakhouse in downtown Indianapolis.

One member of the group eventually tested positive for COVID-19 three times over the following two days. Because the men spent time together unmasked, they were ruled out for March Madness.

This year's men's tournament begins with the First Four contests on Tuesday and Wednesday, while the First Four on the women's side takes place on Wednesday and Thursday.

More must-reads: