Jeff Capel stood dumbfounded, his arms prolonged whereas he tried to digest what had simply occurred.
The Pittsburgh males’s basketball coach thought his staff had 5 minutes of extra time arising in opposition to Notre Dame within the first spherical of the ACC Event, however the referees had referred to as a controversial foul that put the Combating Irish on the line with 0.5 seconds remaining Tuesday.
“He didn’t touch him,” Capel appeared to say.
One made free throw later and the Panthers’ NCAA Event hopes had died with a 55-54 loss to the Twelfth-seeded Combating Irish in Charlotte that perturbed many as a result of ticky-tack nature of the decision.
Capel appeared to make use of a curse to explain the “horrible” foul whereas he chased after the referees following the ultimate buzzer earlier than pulling again considered one of his gamers amid a dialog with an official.
“I really hated the way it ended,” Capel stated after the sport. “I’ve been coaching for 25 years. The worst way I’ve ever seen to end a ball game. I still can’t believe it, shocked at how it ended for us.”
Notre Dame had possession in a 54-54 recreation with lower than 4 seconds when a miss careened towards Pittsburgh’s Zack Austin and Notre Dame’s Tae Davis.
Davis corralled the ball mid-air and hoisted a shot that missed, however a number of whistles rung out contained in the Spectrum Heart after the buzzer sounded.
Even one of many announcers stated “we get overtime” earlier than realizing a foul had been referred to as.
Because the referees seemed on the clock, the ACC Community broadcast confirmed replays of play.
Austin made minimal contact with Davis on the play whereas they each jumped for the rebound, but it surely didn’t appear he affected Davis’ shot.
Corridor of Famer and former Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim disagreed with the ruling.
“No foul,” Boehim stated. “There is no foul.”
He later stated: “I mean, was there any contact?”
Followers booed when the referees dominated Notre Dame would shoot free throws, and Davis made the primary earlier than lacking the second.
Austin, a senior, pulled his jersey over his head after which exited the court docket along with his head nonetheless in his jersey and his arms over his eyes whereas teammates consoled him.
“I’m just hurt, man,” Austin stated whereas crying on the podium. “I’m hurt.”
Pittsburgh star sophomore guard Jaland Lowe walked with an official after the sport and gave the impression to be giving him the enterprise earlier than Capel intervened.
“I’m in disbelief, I’m hurt,” Lowe stated. “Nobody should have to go out like this.”
Notre Dame faces No. 5 seed North Carolina within the second spherical Wednesday, whereas Pittsburgh — ranked as excessive as No. 18 after a 7-1 begin this season — has now missed the NCAA match for 2 straight seasons.
The Panthers turned down the NIT final 12 months and could possibly be supplied a spot once more this 12 months.
