San Diego State is in the Final Four for the first time in the program’s history, but how it got there isn’t one of the most exciting moments in NCAA tournaments.
We thank the officials for that.
As time came to an end in a tie against Creighton, San Diego State’s Darrion Trammell drew a foul with 1.2 seconds left (after a check). Trammell missed the first free throw but knocked down the second, giving SDSU a one-point lead and leaving Creighton little time for a desperate game.
The foul itself was terribly questionable considering what the game was called. A hand rested on Trammell’s hip, but it didn’t seem to affect the shot significantly.
SDSU PULLS A SHOOTING Foul WITH 1.2 SECONDS LEFT pic.twitter.com/TpmU9krzI1
– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 26, 2023
After the free throws, Baylor Scheierman had to attempt a full-field pass after the free throws to set up a last-second shot, but that pass was deflected wide as time seemed to run out. This should have been the moment for San Diego State to celebrate, but everything has been put on hold because college basketball officials are insisting on a review everything.
Solid throw on the inbounds, IMO pic.twitter.com/41GmkEc80n
— CJ Fogler AKA Perc70 #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) March 26, 2023
Like, that should have been it. The ball was deflected and went out after the end of the game. Officials would review the game and determine just that, breaking out a stopwatch because the clock was actually starting late.
This is how the game really ended:
FIRST #LAST FOUR SCHOOL HISTORY FOR THE AZTECS #MarchMadness @Aztec_MBB pic.twitter.com/CZTZxgLcIh
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 26, 2023
So boring, so disappointing. College basketball fans didn’t like the way the officials took over those final sequences of the game.
The referees called a physical game. Can’t tell right now knowing you let her play the whole game. Ref made a mistake.
— Marcus Zegarowski (@MZegarowski1) March 26, 2023
There is technology to check when a clock should start/stop exactly, which would take so little time. That there is no replay center for CBB (at least on the biggest stages) is absurd. It would take significantly less time and be more accurate
— Nick Juskewycz (Sked) (@NickJuskewycz) March 26, 2023
I would like a One Shining Moment montage of all the replay reviews from the tournament.
— Sean Keane (@seankeane) March 26, 2023
ref show
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) March 26, 2023
Referees steal the show at this tournament
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 26, 2023
Forget the foul… it’s the 5 minute review over everything as the clock is down to 0.0 here’s the real mistake. Replay destroys the spirit of the sport while forensic referees spend vast amounts of time searching for fingernail fragments at every game that takes place
– Jeff Hansen (@rakoto10) March 26, 2023
A shining moment this year will consist only of footage of referees looking at monitors.
— Michael Mulvihill (@mulvihill79) March 26, 2023
The umpires let Creighton and San Diego State play like a ’90s NBA game. Then call a touch foul with 1 second left to decide a trip to the Final Four
— Payne (@PayneInsider) March 26, 2023
The ULTIMATE replay review that sucks the emotions out of a moment. Wow.
— Bill Trocchi (@billtrocchi) March 26, 2023
Source : ftw.usatoday.com