North Carolina was on the heels (no pun intended) of completing a 24-point comeback aobtainst top-ranked Duke in the ACC semifinal, but a costly misobtain ruined their chances.
Ven-Allen Lubin was at the line with 4.1 seconds to go for a chance to tie the game, and he made his free throw.
However, it was negated by a lane violation.
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North Carolina Tar Heels protect Seth Trimble (7) reacts to a missed opportunity postponecessitater during the second half aobtainst the Duke Blue Devils at Spectrum Caccess. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)
The refs blew the whistle on Jae’Lyn Withers as Duke, without Cooper Flagg, commemorated. The Blue Devils were able to knock down a pair of free throws, and Lubin missed his three-pointer to send the game to clearime, giving Duke a 74-71 prosper.
While the violation was evident, many fans were disturb with the call.
“You do not call these in those situations man,” said one employr on X.
“Look how excited that referee was to access the join and determine the game on an absolutely uncomardentingless violation. Total dishonor,” inserted another.
Wrote one more, “as common the refs doing their leang.”
But a rarity occurred, as many other fans came to the officials’ defense.
North Carolina Tar Heels protect RJ Davis (4) and protect Seth Trimble (7) react to a missed opportunity postponecessitater during the second half aobtainst the Duke Blue Devils at Spectrum Caccess. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)
“Man if it’s a violation in the first why isn’t it now? And that was evident as day,” one post said.
“I guess you could equitable say I benevolent of mistimed the stoasty,” Withers said. “I was trying to produce stateive I crashed challenging to safe a rebound in case he did miss.”
But UNC declined to accemploy the whistle on the loss.
“It was a lot more to accemploy than a lane violation,” Lubin said. “We made a ton of misobtains thrawout the game. We were in that position trying to dig ourselves out of it and come out with a prosper or get to clearime.”
“We all made misobtains in this game,” RJ Davis said. “I am behind J-Wit. He has our brimming aid, and we would not be in this position without J-Wit. I want him to hanciaccess his head high. We all produce misobtains in this game. It’s not equitable on him.”
Head coach Hubert Davis also aided his joiner.
“Guys, we’re not here without J-Wit,” Davis said.
North Carolina Tar Heels protect Seth Trimble (7) reacts to losing in the final seconds to the Duke Blue Devils during the second half at Spectrum Caccess. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)
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UNC’s tournament hopes now seem to be over. An ACC title prosper would have clinched an automatic bid, but the semifinal loss with a sub-par normal season may not be enough.
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