Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was not too happy with how the Final Four showdown between the UConn Huskies and Iowa Hawkeyes ended.
While the Hawkeyes won, it wasn’t without controversy after a controversial call in the end served as a major blow to the Hukies’ chances to tie or even win the game.
Controversial Ending of UConn Huskies vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Game
For those who missed it, with less than 10 seconds left on the clock and UConn trailing by one 70-69, the Huskies had the ball for the chance to take the lead.
The Huskies were running a play, with Nika Muhl bringing the ball to their side of the court and handing it to Paige Bueckers, who then quickly gave it back to the guard as she tried to attack the basket. But as the Hawkeyes clogged the paint to prevent any attack, Muhl passed the ball again to Bueckers after she appeared to free herself up from the defense courtesy of an Aaliyah Edwards screen.
As the play formed, and even before Bueckers could get a shot, the referees blew their whistle on Edwards and called an offensive foul. The ruling was an illegal moving screen, which then gave the Hawkeyes the possession with four seconds left.
At that point, the Huskies had no other choice but to foul. Caitlin Clark made her first free throw attempt to put them up by two, and despite missing her second free throw, the Hawkeyes were still able to keep possession to close out the game.
Plenty of UConn fans called out the NCAA Tournament for the controversial ending and accused the competition of rigging it for Iowa and the media darling in Clark.
While others argued that it was the correct call since it definitely looked like a moving screen, others pointed out that it shouldn’t have been called in such moment since it was a crucial play.
LeBron James Fires Back at UConn Huskies vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Call
As mentioned, LeBron James was one of those who’s not a fan of the controversial call on Aaliyah Edwards. On X (formerly Twitter), he expressed his disappointment over the whistle.
“NAAAAAHHHHHH!!! I ain’t rolling with that call,” James exclaimed.
Sure enough, James is not the only NBA player who feels the same. The common argument is that the referees should have let things play out and let the players decide who wins or loses in what is already a great game. For many, the call ruined it and took away an incredible ending.
“Was an instant classic. Terrible way for the game to end though. Iowa /UConn,” Jamal Crawford wrote. Kendrick Perkins furthered, “That’s a BS call.”
Is LeBron right that the offensive foul shouldn’t have been called? Or it shouldn’t be blamed on the referees since they are only doing their jobs?
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