Friday’s Final Four matchup between the UConn Huskies led by Paige Bueckers and the Iowa Hawkeyes led by Caitlin Clark was as good as advertised, coming down to the final seconds with the game hanging in the balance. But unfortunately, the game was largely decided by a highly debatable call, which fans naturally took exception to.
UConn had a chance to win the game with the ball and 9.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. A make of any kind would have all but iced the game for them, and a trip to the National Championship against South Carolina.
As they got into their set play, UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards set an off-ball screen to try and free up Bueckers for a final shot. However, Edwards was called for an offensive foul on the screen attempt, giving the ball back to Iowa with just under five seconds to play.
Offensive foul on UConn… do you agree with the call? #FinalFour 🏀🦓pic.twitter.com/UsbmCTh6Bt
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 6, 2024
You be the judge, but it sure looks like Edwards feet were set, and it could have been a play-on in the perfect world. Instead, UConn would be forced to foul, and would ultimately run out of time, losing the game 71-69.
Fans had plenty to say about the call, largely agreeing that this likely shouldn’t have been a call that was made with the game on the line.
Legitimately one of the worst offensive foul calls I’ve ever seen… Let alone with 4 seconds left & the game on the line.
Feel sick for Aaliyah Edwards & UCONN. There’s just no world where this is a moving screen. Brutal. pic.twitter.com/73AYbGmAnT
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) April 6, 2024
Title game appearance on the line in the final seconds and this is called an offensive foul #WFinalFour
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) April 6, 2024
This may have been an offensive foul, but you can’t make this call with the game on the line. You can only call an offensive foul there if somebody tackles somebody. pic.twitter.com/jssXWK4IQK
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) April 6, 2024
WAS UCONN ROBBED ON THIS OFFENSIVE FOUL CALL? pic.twitter.com/W2zGXcSm2t
— ML Basketball (@_MLBasketball) April 6, 2024
Even LeBron James took issue with the call, making his opinion known that the call was questionable at best.
“NAAAAAHHHHHH!!! I ain’t rolling with that call,” tweeted James.
NAAAAAHHHHHH!!! I ain’t rolling with that call.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 6, 2024
It sure seems clear that most viewers clearly weren’t thrilled with the call. And to be fair, a game of this magnitude ending on this kind of ticky-tack call is a bit of a letdown.
Regardless, it will be Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes taking on South Carolina with a National Championship on the line, which should be one of the most anticipated college basketball games in recent memory.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.