Sunday, March 20, 2011

2011 NCAA Tournament Highlights: Watch Derrick Williams And Arizona Upset Texas

Have you seen the latest controversial finish?

A five-second call cost the No. 4 seeded Texas Longhorns a Sweet Sixteen appearance in a 70-69 loss to the No. 5 seeded Arizona Wildcats in the West region.

Trailing by two, Derrick Williams missed a jumper and Texas secured the rebound with 14 seconds remaining. For some reason Jordan Hamilton called a timeout instead of letting the Wildcats foul him.

Now the Longhorns had to inbound the ball and a stingy Wildcats defense shadowed the Longhorns and drew a five second call.

Arizona had the ball with 14 seconds left and the rest is history. Williams goes straight to the basket and flips in the off balanced reverse lay-up while getting fouled in the process.

Williams, widely regarded as a future NBA lottery pick, finished with 17 points and eight rebounds. Solomon Hill and Jodin Mayes each added 16 for the 'Cats.

Two big questions remain after watching this video.

Did J'Covan Brown get fouled? And what did Sean Miller say to Rick Barnes after the horn sounded?

Brown took the inbounds pass with nine seconds and ended up driving to the hole looking to draw a foul. He was able to get to the basket and it appears as if he was looking for the contact. But Arizona held their arms in the air, ensuring they wouldn't be called on a cheap foul.

Brown fell down on his own and the refs did a great job of swallowing their whistles on the play.

But what about the mugging of Gary Johnson?

The Texas forward secured the rebound as a Arizona defender hit him pretty hard. Johnson's mistake was catching the ball instead of going for the tip. He likely would have gotten the call if he went that route. Instead, he got hit as he landed on the court and no call was made.

While I think a foul could have been called, there is no way you can make the call in that situation. The refs did the right thing.

As the game ends, Arizona head coach Sean Miller approaches Texas coach Rick Banes with a slashing gesture. What exactly did he mean by that?

Barnes looks confused as the two have the briefest of meetings at half-court. Was Barnes looking lost because of the end of game melt down, or because of what Miller had just done?

That was a pretty bizarre exchange and we are left wondering what exactly was said between the two in the heat of the moment.

Regardless of if you agree with the call, Arizona is on to Anaheim to face the Duke Blue Devils on Friday with a birth to the Elite Eight on the line in the West region.

Texas is left wondering what could have been as they exit the tournament after yet another disappointment.

Can't get enough March Madness coverage? Click here for the latest analysts from the Bleacher Report staff.

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