We have a controversial finish on our hands in Anaheim as a huge call from the referees enabled Purdue to tie the game in the final seconds against Tennessee.
A controversial call kept Purdue’s season alive while ending Tennessee’s.
Purdue had the ball for an inbound play down 82-80 with 2.5 seconds on the clock, with Ryan Cline triggering the play. Cline passed to Carsen Edwards on the perimeter, and the refs called Tennessee for a foul, sending Edwards to the line for three huge free throws.
The call was controversial in the immediate aftermath with many questioning on Twitter if the Boilers just got a lucky break and if this was the latest example of the Vols getting the raw end of a call. Edwards only hit two-of-three at the charity stripe, tying the game at 82 and sending it to overtime where the Boilermakers won 99-94.
While the defender does not contact the shooter’s arms on this play, his hip does make contact with the lower body prior to the shooter landing. Remember, a player remains a shooter until he is no longer airborne. In my opinion, this is the correct call. pic.twitter.com/3g3NSwPt62
— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) March 29, 2019
“While the defender does not contact the shooter’s arms on this play, his hip does make contact with the lower body prior to the shooter landing,” Former NCAA official and CBS rules analyst, Gene Steratore wrote on Twitter. “Remember, a player remains a shooter until he is no longer airborne. In my opinion, this is the correct call.”
This is now Tennessee’s second straight overtime game in the NCAA Tournament after needing the extra session to top Iowa in the Round of 32. This one could have been avoided if the refs simply swallowed the whistle against Purdue.
For some reason, it seems like Tennessee, in football and basketball, tends to find themselves on the wrong end of decisions from the officials. If the Vols don’t win this game in overtime, it’s going to be a long offseason to get over this controversial ending.