Texas Tech basketball: Hidden moments that cost Tech the Kentucky game
A 50-50 call in the last minute doesn’t go Tech’s way
With the game knotted 63-63 in the final minute of regulation, Kentucky’s Ashton Hagans led a fast break. When he got into the paint, he threw a lob to Richards, who was undercut by Moretti thus drawing a foul.
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The problem is that before Richards caught the lob, Hagans plowed over Kyler Edwards, who was in position to draw a charge outside of the restricted area. But the officials seemed to be caught up in watching the ball and didn’t make the call on the charge.
The result of this no-call on a 50-50 decision by the referees was costly because Richards went to the line and hit one of his two free throws to put his team up 64-63 with 28.7 seconds remaining.
Of course, we all know that on the next possession, Tech would see Moretti, a 91% shooter at the line, also go 1-2 to tie the game. But consider how this game would have changed if Hagans had been whistled for bowling over Edwards.
The crowd in the arena felt a call was warranted (of course) but when Red Raider fans began voicing our displeasure, the ESPN broadcast crew focused only on the back end of the play with Moretti and Richards, assuming that was what had upset Texas Tech fans.
But what the mighty ESPN blowhards who don’t follow this program on a game-by-game basis didn’t realize is that Red Raider fans are well aware that our team draws more charges than a credit card. Thus, we were all watching the Hagans/Edwards portion of the play, which went incorrectly uncalled.
Now for the tired disclaimer that anyone has to issue when pointing out an officiating miss. The officials didn’t cost Tech this game. There were plenty of opportunities for the home team to pull out the win but they didn’t take advantage.
dark. Next. Inside the Texas Tech / Kentucky box score
Still, this is a play that likely gets called as a charge more often than not if it had occurred outside of the final minute of the second half. But I think the officials were also caught up in the moment, just like the rest of the arena, and were guilty of watching the ball instead of the entire play. That turned out to be a critical call that ultimately prolonged the game for the Wildcats.