The NCAA may have inadvertently aided Syracuse when they got a critical call wrong at the end of the Gonzaga game.
Syracuse’s run to the Final Four has been spectacular. They went on a 15-3 run at the end of the Sweet 16 to advance against Virginia, then closed out the Elite 8 on a 27-8 run to book a spot in the Final Four. However, their Gonzaga comeback may have been aided by the refs.
With 1:17 left in the game, a 10-second violation was called on Gonzaga when they failed to move the ball past the backcourt. However, Kyle Dranginis touched the ball in the front court before Trevor Cooney swatted it away, meaning the 10-second limit should’ve been reset.
Of course, Syracuse has been one of the best defensive teams of the tournament, and they were utilizing their full-court press, hounding the Bulldogs all throughout the final minute. Even if Gonzaga had scored on that possession, that doesn’t necessarily mean they would’ve won the game.
Just before the Final Four gets underway in Houston, Gonzaga head coach Mark Few received a call from the NCAA admitting that they got the call wrong. Credit the NCAA for owning up to their mistake, but it should’ve come a lot sooner. As if the coaching staff wasn’t feeling bad enough about losing the game late, they had to receive this call just before Syracuse is about to tip off. In the end, Few said he had no hard feelings, but he’s probably screaming internally right now.
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