Highly Controversial Foul Helps Purdue Beat Tennessee, Fans Livid
There were a couple of blowouts in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchups Thursday, and Purdue-Tennessee appeared to be headed that way before the Volunteers had a furious rally.
But all people can talk about after the game is a questionable foul call with 1.7 seconds remaining in regulation.
Tennessee was up by two with just a few ticks on the clock left, and then this happened.
Thanks to the new PI review rules, this “foul” call with 1.7 seconds left would be overturned in the NFL pic.twitter.com/NU6Jz8Gb2W
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 29, 2019
Purdue’s Carsen Edwards went for a potential game-winning 3-pointer and was fouled by Tennessee’s Lamonte Turner … according to the officials, that is.
Turner grazed Edwards after he pulled a Reggie Miller and kicked his leg out while shooting in order to draw contact.
“I try to contest the shot, and his leg made contact with me and they called a foul,” Turner said, according to ESPN. “So I don’t understand what I’m supposed to do.”
After the whistle, Turner pleaded with officials and kept kicking his leg out to illustrate what Edwards had just done. Edwards then went to the line and knocked down two of the three free throws to tie the game and send it into overtime.
In overtime, there wasn’t any controversy as Purdue put up 17 points in just five minutes of play to prevail 99-94.
The majority opinion on social media afterward was that the Boilermakers got a huge break from a terrible call.
Sensational game. Congrats to Purdue. Absolute garbage foul call on Tennessee on 3 at end of regulation. Just terrible. Season, game changer.
— Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) March 29, 2019
This call is a disgrace. pic.twitter.com/DxhUogu7RY
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) March 29, 2019
Tennessee got robbed. And I don’t even care about either of these teams. But after that phantom foul I want Purdue to lose next round #Tennessee #purdue
— eRic (@DET_UNC_CMUfan) March 29, 2019
Making it even more heartbreaking for the Vols, who were seeded No. 2 in the South Region, is the fact that they have made the NCAA Tournament 22 times and advanced to the Sweet 16 eight times but have never reached the Final Four. The 2010 Elite Eight was Tennessee’s best showing.
Purdue is in the Elite Eight for the first time since 2000 and the fifth time overall. The Boilermakers will be seeking their first Final Four appearance since the 1980 season when they take on top-seeded Virginia on Saturday.
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