Refs miss Santa Clara timeout on controversial Kentucky buzzer-beater
Kentucky was able to rally to defeat Santa Clara in the opening round of the men's NCAA Tournament — and it may have gotten lucky with officials missing some key moments.
After Allen Graves hit a go-ahead 3-pointer for Santa Clara with 2.4 seconds left, Broncos coach Herb Sendek tried to call a timeout, likely wanting to set up his defense for Kentucky's last shot. While the CBS broadcast caught it, the referees didn't appear to see it and didn't award the timeout.
Kentucky's Otega Oweh instead hit a stunning 3-point buzzer beater from the March Madness logo to force overtime. While there's no telling if that happens or not if Santa Clara got its timeout, the Broncos could have had a chance to defend the final play more efficiently.
"Well, I unequivocally called timeout. But they didn't grant it," Sendek said. "I think the video evidence is clear, and anybody is able to pull it up. So, you know, is a likely response after Allen hits the three that the coach would be calling timeout to set the defense, which I tried to do, and I was successful in doing, other than it wasn't acknowledged or recognized. So that's what happened."
CBS studio analyst Bruce Pearl said Sendek could have gone slightly on the court to alert the officials, but one of them should've noticed the call.
"I 100% of the time think you foul, but because they didn't call timeout, they didn't have an opportunity," Charles Barkley said on the postgame broadcast .
Did Otega Oweh get away with travel?
The second controversial moment came in overtime.
With the Wildcats up by two points in the final minute of overtime, they were able to block a potential game-tying shot from Santa Clara's Sash Gavalyugov, leading to a loose ball. Oweh grabbed it and threw it ahead to Brandon Garrison for the dunk to make it a two-possession game and get the distance it needed for the win.
A replay of the play appeared to show Oweh took more than two steps without dribbling the ball, which should result in a travel. On the CBS broadcast, play-by-play man Spero Dedes said rules analyst Gene Steratore told them Oweh should have been called for traveling.
The controversial no call did have an effect, with the Wildcats winning 89-84.
Otega Oweh travel reactions
People on social media believed officials cost Santa Clara a huge March Madness upset. Here's a sampling of some reactions:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did Santa Clara get ripped off by refs in March Madness loss to Kentucky?
