‘What was that?’ TCU fans, hoops experts decry pivotal non-call versus Arizona
TCU fans weren’t the only ones apoplectic after the Horned Frogs’ 85-80 overtime loss to Arizona late Sunday night in San Diego.
High-profile media members who cover college basketball were also irate over a perceived no-call on a body bump a Wildcats player against Frogs’ guard Mike Miles.
With the game tied at 75-75 and 12 seconds left in regulation, Miles was dribbling from one side of TCU’s half of the court towards the other near the mid-court line when he was bumped by Dalen Terry. Miles fell to the court, lost control of the ball and the game went to overtime.
CBS Sports’ Seth Davis called the play “bonkers.”
“Blatant foul at midcourt, turnover leads to game winning opportunity,” Davis posted.
Yahoo Sports columnist Dan Wetzel surmised on Twitter: “What exactly is or isn’t a foul is a mystery.”
ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla’s shock that the play wasn’t replayed by the TBS Sports crew broadcasting the game. One replay of the collision was played but with commercials and replays of Terry’s near game-ending dunk — which was correctly not counted — at the buzzer was also requiring replay time. And then overtime was starting so TBS didn’t have much time to work in a Zapruder film-like breakdown of the play.
“Stunned there were not multiple replays of the most important play of the game,” Fraschilla posted. “The official closest to the play should not advance in the tournament. Doesn’t react quick enough and is straight-lined by 2nd Arizona defender. Terrible break for @TCUBasketball.”
Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde agreed. “We, um, NEED A REPLAY of the collision at midcourt. Cmon man,” he posted.
Fox Sports Radio’s Doug Gottlieb was even more pointed with his displeasure over the non-call. “Surgeons are on their way to Viejas Arena to surgically remove whistles from the refs stomachs,” Gottlieb posted. “It is an obvious foul, if you aren’t calling it, it is a backcourt violation.”
The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach agreed at least one or the other needed to be called.
A foul would have put Miles at the free-throw line with a chance to give TCU the lead with 10 seconds remaining.
