NCAA Refs strike again

I did not watch the whole game so I can’t speak to the entire officiating performance, but that last foul that led to the game winning 3 free throws was the right call.

True, the refs missed that. A lot of people did in the flow of live action. The refs must have thought an Auburn player touched it. Just heard Barkley say he didn’t realize it was a double dribble. And the rules analyst post-game just discussed why it was missed, essentially saying it was missed in “the fog of battle”. Kinda like 4 step Svi (which I submit was a much more egregious error).

But if the Auburn guy didn’t foul Jerome right after that, the game would have been over with Jerome’s missed shot right after he was fouled. So Auburn messed up there.

And if the refs had called more fouls (they obviously swallowed a lot of whistles because no way UVA and Auburn get to the last 5 minutes with less than 5 fouls each), the game would have been different too.

Bottom line to me, based on the foul count the refs, for better or worse, let them play. And that last call was the right call. Credit to Guy for making all 3.

Of note: Auburn was in the exact same situation in their first NCAAT game this year, but the opposing player only made 1 of 3 and Auburn advanced.

I am reminded of 1993 when the refs kept Michigan’s chances alive against the tarred ones when they missed Chris Webber’s post rebound dragged foot walk with seconds to go. Then Webber called the timeout UM didn’t have,the T bailed out the refs and the tarred ones sealed it at the line.

Always going to be a part of the game. Hopefully always in our favor.