A spherical of 32 matchup between No. 4 seed Illinois and No. 5 seed Houston was at all times going to supply a tense ambiance. Houston was attempting to construct off its Remaining 4 run final season, whereas Illinois was seeking to make its first journey to the Candy 16 since Dee Brown and Deron Williams powered a Remaining 4 run again in 2005.
The sport was intently contested halfway by means of the second half when Illini freshman RJ Melendez obtained the ball on a breakaway after a steal. Melendez flushed residence a dunk to chop Houston’s result in 4 factors, and he held on the rim to guard himself from his ahead momentum.
The refs thought it was showboating, they usually known as him for one of many worst technical fouls you’ll ever see.
Mike Reed, Brian O’Connell, Courtney Inexperienced have been the refs within the recreation. They need to be held accountable for such a horrible name.
Houston instantly went on a giant run following the technical. The Cougars gained the sport, 68-53, to advance to the Candy 16.
This was a horrendous name by the officers by any measure. Melendez was not showboating — he was ensuring he didn’t get harm after sprinting and hovering for a dunk in a detailed recreation. The refs within the males’s NCAA event have been a problem a number of instances already, significantly within the North Carolina vs. Baylor recreation, and that is essentially the most egregious name they’ve made thus far.
Illinois couldn’t afford to have such a dumb name go towards them in a detailed recreation — the Cougars are too good for that. Houston made a Remaining 4 run final yr. They’ve now superior to at the very least the Candy 16 in three straight instances within the males’s event.
After the sport, Illini coach Brad Underwood mentioned the official that made the decision regretted it. Underwood puzzled if the decision was “private.”
Brad Underwood on RJ Melendez’s technical foul.
• “Horrible.”
• Says it deflated Illinois’ momentum.
• Claims the official (Brian O’Connell) instructed him after the truth that he should not have known as it.
• Wonders is the decision was “private.” pic.twitter.com/gnX82nowdD— Brendan Quinn (@BFQuinn) March 20, 2022
The refs want to appreciate the sport isn’t about them. To name a tech in that state of affairs is legitimately infuriating.
