Auburn Vs Virginia: Were The Refs Blind?

did basketball officials blew the call against auburn vs virginia

The 2019 Final Four matchup between Virginia and Auburn ended in a Cavaliers win, with a final score of 63-62. However, the game was decided by a controversial foul call on Auburn in the last 0.6 seconds, which gave Virginia's Kyle Guy three free throws and a chance to take the lead. The call has been deemed questionable by many, with some arguing that it was a clear foul, while others believe that the referees missed a double dribble by Virginia's Ty Jerome earlier in the game, which would have given possession back to Auburn. This game has been remembered as one of the most controversial in NCAA tournament history, with the calls and non-calls overshadowing the thrilling gameplay.

Characteristics Values
Date of the game April 6, 2019
Teams Virginia Cavaliers vs. Auburn Tigers
Score Virginia 63, Auburn 62
Referees James Breeding, one of three officials
Call Foul on Auburn's Samir Doughty
Result of the call Three free throws for Virginia's Kyle Guy
Missed call Virginia's Ty Jerome double-dribbled
Outcome Virginia won and advanced to the national title game

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The foul call on Doughty

The foul call on Samir Doughty with 0.6 seconds left on the game clock decided the outcome of the Final Four matchup between Virginia and Auburn. Doughty was called for a foul on Kyle Guy, who was attempting a three-pointer. The call gave Guy three free throws, which he made, and Virginia a shocking chance to regain the lead.

Doughty, with his arms extended skyward, made contact with Guy's right side on the release, knocking him backward. Official James Breeding ruled that Doughty had moved into the airborne Guy, violating Rule 4, Section 39.i, which states that the defender may not "'belly up' or use the lower part of the body or arms to cause contact outside his vertical plane or inside the opponent’s vertical plane."

However, some commentators defended the referees' decision, arguing that the foul call on Doughty was correct according to the rules, and that missed calls are a normal part of sports. While acknowledging the missed call on Jerome, they argued that it did not detract from Virginia's achievement in winning the game.

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The missed double dribble call on Jerome

The 2019 Final Four matchup between Virginia and Auburn ended in a Cavaliers victory, but not without controversy. With 1.5 seconds left, Virginia guard Ty Jerome appeared to double-dribble as he attempted to dribble behind his back and lost control of the ball. However, the referees missed this call, and the non-call proved costly for Auburn.

In the final seconds of the game, Auburn's Samir Doughty was called for a foul on Virginia's Kyle Guy, who was attempting a three-pointer. This call sent Guy to the free-throw line for three foul shots, which he made, securing the win for Virginia.

The missed double-dribble call on Jerome was a crucial mistake by the officials. Had the call been made, Auburn would have regained possession and likely won the game. The double-dribble was a routine call that the referees should have made, and the fact that they missed it in such a high-stakes game has been a point of contention.

The non-call on Jerome's double-dribble sparked a social media firestorm and added fuel to the fire of an already controversial ending to the game. Many believed that if the officials were going to call a foul on Doughty, they also should have called a double-dribble on Jerome.

While the foul call on Doughty was indeed correct by the rulebook, the missed double-dribble call on Jerome cannot be reviewed by replay and has not been addressed by the NCAA. This game and its controversial ending will likely be remembered as one of the most memorable in NCAA tournament history, with the missed call on Jerome playing a significant role in its outcome.

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The game-winning free throws by Guy

The game between Auburn and Virginia was a tense affair, with Auburn holding a two-point lead with just one second remaining. However, a foul call on Samir Doughty, who made contact with Kyle Guy, changed the outcome of the game. This gave Guy three free throws, and he coolly nailed all three, winning the game for Virginia.

In the aftermath of the game, there was much discussion about the foul call. Many people, including Auburn fans and some prestigious coaches, believed that the referees had made the wrong call. They argued that Doughty's contact with Guy was not a foul and that the referees had missed a double dribble by Virginia's Ty Jerome earlier in the game. This missed call, they claimed, had given Virginia an advantage and ultimately led to the foul call that decided the game.

On the other hand, some people defended the referees' decision, arguing that the foul call was correct according to the rules. Kyle Guy himself acknowledged the controversy but stood by the referees' decision. He understood the impact of the call on the game's outcome but believed that the referees had made the right call.

Despite the controversy, Guy's game-winning free throws demonstrated his composure and skill under pressure. With the game on the line, he was able to block out the distractions and focus on making the shots, showcasing his mental toughness and clutch ability. This crucial moment not only highlighted Guy's talent but also reinforced the impact that officiating calls can have on the outcome of close games.

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The impact of the calls on the outcome

The game between Auburn and Virginia was a tense affair, with Auburn leading by 10 points with five minutes left. Virginia had not scored for over five minutes, and Auburn appeared to be on the verge of sealing a monumental comeback. However, the game took a turn in the final five seconds, with a series of calls and non-calls that would decide the outcome.

Firstly, Virginia's Ty Jerome attempted to dribble behind his back but lost control of the ball. He then tried to restart his dribble, which Auburn supporters argued was a double-dribble that should have been called. The referees did not call it, and play continued.

With 1.5 seconds left, Auburn's Bryce Brown fouled Ty Jerome, and with 0.6 seconds left, Auburn's Samir Doughty was called for a foul on Virginia's Kyle Guy. This call decided the outcome of the game, as Guy was given three free throws, which he made, giving Virginia a one-point lead.

The impact of these calls was significant. If the double-dribble had been called on Jerome, Auburn would have regained possession and probably won the game. Instead, the non-call on Jerome, followed by the foul call on Doughty, gave Virginia the opportunity to win. The game ended 63-62 to Virginia, and without those calls, the outcome could have been very different.

The calls and non-calls in the final seconds of the game have had a lasting impact on how the game is remembered. It has been described as one of the most controversial calls in Final Four history, and the calls have overshadowed what was otherwise a great college basketball game.

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The reaction to the calls

Virginia player Kyle Guy, who was fouled by Auburn's Samir Doughty, said, "I could lie to you and say I knew I was going to hit 'em. But I was terrified." [...] I felt like there was no way I was going to land. He was in my space. But I think the ref made the right call in my opinion. Auburn is going to think otherwise, and I've been in their shoes before."

Auburn assistant coach Steven Pearl said, "It's such a bang-bang play. How is the referee supposed to see if [Virginia guard Ty Jerome] kicked the ball as opposed to our guy touching it? That's a tough one. It looked from our side like he kicked it, and we didn't touch it. But it's just one of those things you have to deal with."

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl refused to criticise the officiating, saying, "My advice, as an administrator of the game, is if that's a foul, call it. Call it at the beginning of the game. Call it in the middle of the game. Call it at the end of the game. Don't call it any more or less at any other time during the game."

However, some commentators felt that the referees had missed a double-dribble by Virginia guard Ty Jerome, which should have resulted in a turnover and given Auburn the chance to win the game. ESPN called the game "one of the most controversial calls—and non-calls—in NCAA tournament history."

Frequently asked questions

No, the foul call was correct.

With 0.6 seconds left in the game, Auburn's Samir Doughty was charged with a foul on Virginia's Kyle Guy.

Guy made all three free throws, winning the game for Virginia.

Yes, there was a missed double-dribble call on Virginia's Ty Jerome.

The calls were controversial and sparked a social media firestorm. Auburn fans and players were left devastated, while Virginia celebrated its win.

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