The elimination of the Samford Bulldogs is leaving a bad taste in many people’s mouths. And the blame is going to the NCAA officiants. Charles Barkley is also blaming them. What is being touted as the best play of the first round came in the final game of Day 1. #13 Bulldogs were down four points with 20 seconds on the clock. After Jaden Campbell went for a 3-pointer, Kansas’ Nicolas Timberlake was going for a breakaway. But Samford’s AJ Staton-McCray came in the way and pulled the most spectacular block.
Officiants immediately called a foul, sent Timberlake to the line for two free throws which he made, and Kansas won 93-89. While he took a nasty fall, on closer look, it’s clear AJ didn’t touch Nicolas. Charles Barkley, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, Ernie Johnson, with March Madness guest host, Clark Kellogg, were outraged by that bad call that cost Samford.
Chuck even brought up how meticulously they review games behind the scenes at TNT. “You know Kenny, the thing that bothers me about the play is … we review everything,” he said as all the analysts broke down how that was a block and not a foul. He summed it up in two words, “Bad call,” and the studio agreed.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Kenny was also heated up saying, “We sat here and watched them review like seven calls, but they couldn’t review that one?”
Clark Kellogg, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley discuss the controversial foul on Samford, as well as the review system. pic.twitter.com/pICvSfkW5V
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 22, 2024
Jayhawks’ Timberlake said, “I was definitely fouled on the breakaway.” A good number of those who watched don’t think so. Chuck and Kenny were appalled at the lack of review too. In-court analysts, Lonzo Ball and more NBA stars watching chimed in that it was all ball.
Samford collected itself after losing their first big shot at upsetting the NCAA Tournament and stayed dignified. This chaos isn’t going to stop Kansas from playing against Gonzaga next. Does that mean Barkley is giving it a pass?
TNT Guys slam the rules
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
As empathetic as Clark Kellogg was for Samford, he said that judgment calls are not reviewable. He said that they “can’t change the rules” based on Samford’s game but Kenny countered, “The rules are just wrong then.”
READ MORE: Caught Hilariously Cheating on Live TV, Charles Barkley Flips The Script With Bizarre Advice
And when Kellog asserted that fans are always complaining about how long reviews take, Barkley retorted, “They can do reviews quicker.” But they convinced Kellogg on one aspect after seeing too many “irrelevant” reviews before that controversial call – the refs need to figure out which plays are not worth reviewing. But he again contended that would mean changing the rules.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
These moments do happen in March Madness. Even though Samford is handling it graciously, the roundtable at TNT are angered on their behalf. But do you think their guest host is right about the ‘rules?’
READ MORE: Charles Barkley Bullies “Captain Obvious” TNT Co-Host for Kentucky March Madness Take