One thing sports fans can agree on is they all hate the referees.
Virginia won the national championship but had a little help from the refs along the way to cutting down the nets. Look, Tony Bennett’s team was the best team according to several data points and are deserving of their national title, but the referees missed several calls that helped the Cavaliers pursuit of their first title.
Virginia wouldn’t have even been in the National Championship Game if not for a ticky-tack foul called on Auburn in the final second of the Final Four.
Kyle Guy should be commended for knocking down all three free throws with the pulse of a cold-blooded assassin. But he also shouldn’t have been at the line.
KYLE GUY WAS FOULED.
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 7, 2019
He head to the line with a chance to WIN THE GAME. pic.twitter.com/DuF7NEQd32
Moments before, the refs missed a crucial double dribble call that would have given possession to Auburn and not give them a chance to close the deficit.
Did the refs miss one? #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/WDet9obKZV
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 7, 2019
That was a recurring theme for Virginia who will go down as the luckiest national champion ever.
No one wants championships determined by the zebras but that’s what happened in the NCAA Tournament. It’s impossible to overlook how present they were, especially in late-game situations.
They should apologize to all college basketball fans for tainting what was an otherwise exciting session of March madness.
The refs couldn’t get out of their own way in the National Championship Game when a Virginia player falling down on his own was ruled a charge on Texas Tech. Their obsession with charge calls is infuriating.
If this is “the right call,” you gotta update the rulebook. Dude didn’t play defense just turned around and fell down. pic.twitter.com/iKb4ZdgHVB
— Tom Fehr (@TJFsports) April 9, 2019
Virginia didn’t pay off the refs, but the evidence is damaging, considering Virginia’s Kyle Guy tripped over his own teammate and it resulted in a Texas Tech foul. The Red Raiders were up 3 in overtime when that call happened. You know what happened next. Tech fans should demand an apology from the NCAA like New Orleans Saints fans demanded of the NFL after the missed pass interference call went against them in the NFC Championship Game.
While you’re watching Virginia celebrate, take a look at this play. Texas Tech is up 3 in overtime, Kyle Guy trips on his own teammate and a foul is called on Texas Tech. Congrats to the Cavs but they had the zebras in their pocket all the way to the end. Wow pic.twitter.com/it17ANiRTI
— Jon Linder (@LinderShowMiami) April 9, 2019
The worst of it all happened when Tech was down by two with just over a minute left and Guy reached in and fouled Davide Moretti, but it wasn’t called. Instead, the play was reviewed — for several minutes — when it didn’t need to be and it resulted in a turnover for Tech.
That was all the momentum Virginia needed to seal the win. And it goes against the intended purpose of instant replay. It’s supposed to correct obvious and egregious officiating errors. This review turned a blind eye to the foul and
Listen Tech had its chances, and this will probably get taken down by the NCAA, but down two late in OT, this play turned the game.
— Eric Kelly (@EricKellyTV) April 9, 2019
This is a foul. In real speed it was a foul. In slow mo it was a foul.
Instead, a Tech turnover, and UVA went on a 6-0 run to close out the game. pic.twitter.com/dDXwlrK75i
Technically, the call is correct. It touched the very last atom of Moretti’s pinky. What’s not correct is referees injecting themselves in the game when fans just want to see the players and coaches decide it for themselves. It wasn’t Texas Tech vs. Virginia and the refs.
The refs changed the game.
This was an awesome NCAA Tournament and delivered just the eighth overtime National Championship Game, but it feels tainted by the overwhelming presence of the refs. That should never happen.