Overzealous officiating completely zapped the energy of the NCAA championship and became the story of the game
Matt York/AP
But what may have become the signature storyline from the game was tight, overzealous officiating that marred the second half of a close contest.
In total, there were 44 foul calls, 22 on both teams, with 27 of those fouls coming in the second half. As a result, there were 52 total free throws, 26 for each team.
It wasn't that the officiating was unfair or one-sided - it was just far too prevalent. In the second half, both teams lost their top big men to foul trouble, with Gonzaga trying to platoon big men as Zach Collins and Przemek Karnowski battled foul trouble while UNC's Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks both finished with four fouls. (Collins later fouled out.)
One section of ESPN's play-by-play illustrates how the game slowed to a crawl.
One particular foul on Collins, his fourth, also gained steam on Twitter, as users questioned the referees' quick whistles.
The sports world quickly grew displeased with the officiating.
Even NBA players grew tired of the whistles.
Foul trouble affected both teams' front lines, and playing in foul trouble can alter players' mentality, particularly around the basket as they contest shots. Afterward, former college coach Fran Fraschilla suggested it may be time for the NCAA to consider FIBA's rules, where team fouls get washed away during halves to open the play again.
Game changing call here, what a joke. pic.twitter.com/kcxSfH7bTF
- Matt Smith (@SamENole) April 4, 2017
What's your favorite foul tonight?
- The Ringer (@ringer) April 4, 2017
At this point, it'd be easier to list who ISN'T in foul trouble.
- Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) April 4, 2017
We had a wonderful college basketball season. 38 teams averaged over 80. And now this.
- Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) April 4, 2017
Man I can't watch this anymore man! I would like to see the kids decide who wins the game! I mean Bruh!! Smh
- LeBron James (@KingJames) April 4, 2017
Let these kids play. Put the whistles away.
- DWade (@DwyaneWade) April 4, 2017
- US buys 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Russia's ally costing on average less than $20,000 each, report says
- 2 states where home prices are falling because there are too many houses and not enough buyers
- A couple accidentally shipped their cat in an Amazon return package. It arrived safely 6 days later, hundreds of miles away.
- 9 health benefits of drinking sugarcane juice in summer
- 10 benefits of incorporating almond oil into your daily diet
- From heart health to detoxification: 10 reasons to eat beetroot
- Why did a NASA spacecraft suddenly start talking gibberish after more than 45 years of operation? What fixed it?
- ICICI Bank shares climb nearly 5% after Q4 earnings; mcap soars by ₹36,555.4 crore
- Nothing Phone (2a) blue edition launched
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market