Did refs botch foul call late in KU win? Players, coaches, experts weigh in

SALT LAKE CITY (KSNT) – KU men’s basketball is moving on to the round of 32 in the 2024 NCAA tournament after a 93-89 win against Samford on Thursday night in Utah.

However, many are questioning whether or not the Jayhawks’ got help from a controversial foul call late in the final minute of the game.

Nick Timberlake went to the free throw line with 14 seconds remaining in the game after a foul was called on Samford’s A.J. Staton-McCray. NCAA March Madness posted a video of the play on X, formerly Twitter, in which many believe the Bulldog defender may have contacted strictly the basketball, not Timberlake.

If the whistle was not blown, Samford would’ve likely had the ball, down 90-89, with no shot clock.

Players and head coaches from both sides were asked about the game-changing call in postgame interviews.

“I was definitely fouled open the breakaway,” Timberlake said. The ensuing free throw gave him a season-high 19 points.

KU head coach Bill Self did not give a straightforward answer about whether the call was correct.

“I thought Nick attacked the basket well,” Self said. “He’s a much better athlete than what a lot of people think. He attacked it strong, just like he should.”

KU’s senior center and fifth-year senior point guard weighed in during locker room interviews.

“They said foul, so I’ll agree with them,” Harris said with a laugh. “It looked like all ball too, though. But … I’ll take the foul. He made the free throws so I’m going to walk away with that, I don’t got nothing to say.”

Dickinson smiled when the question was asked, too. His answer was shorter.

“I trust the refs,” he said.

Samford, although still needing a bucket had the officials let play continue without a whistle, might have reason to think its season was ended unjustly. After all, it was heartbreak for the Bulldogs, who stormed back from a 22-point deficit and pulled within one point late in the second half.

“I have seen the play. I thought A.J. made an incredible play on it,” Samford head coach Bucky McMillan said. “You know what I’m saying? I’m not faulting the call. Some people can see it different ways. But I was really proud of our guys’ ability to go make a play. At the end of the day A.J.’s recovery there, there is no whistle … There’s no whistle, we’re going to have a number’s advantage to go the other way to advance to round two. That’s how close the game was. That’s how well our guys played. What was the maximum we were down? We were down by 22. We’re going to have the ball there with a great opportunity.”

CBS Sports rules analyst Gene Steratore offered his thoughts, via social media, too.

“Did not like the foul call here,” he said. “This appeared to be all ball.”

Whether or not a friendly whistle helped the Hawks seal the deal, Kansas dances on. KU will play Gonzaga in the second round. The Jayhawks and their second-straight ‘Bulldog’ opponent are scheduled to tip off at 2:15 CT on Saturday.