One whistle to rule them all. Auburn knows that sounds like a nightmare on loop. Their 79-73 loss to Florida in this year’s Final Four stings—but it’s nothing compared to the phantom pain of 2019. That night, history didn’t end with a buzzer-beater. It ended with a whistle. Virginia 63, Auburn 62. And just like that, a dream run unraveled. Six years later, as Duke readies for Houston, that same whistle—James Breeding’s—has once again set off alarms across the college basketball landscape.

With 0.6 seconds left, Breeding signaled a foul on Doughty as Virginia’s Kyle Guy attempted a three. Guy sank all three free throws. Bryce Brown’s final heave for Auburn came up short. Season over. That moment, preceded by a missed double dribble by Ty Jerome just seconds earlier, is now stitched into Auburn basketball history like a bad scar.

“I just didn’t think it was a foul, but the refs thought otherwise,” Brown said. “Can’t go back and rewind it, so…” Six years later, Breeding is back—selected once again to officiate on the sport’s biggest stage.

The NCAA announced its Final Four crew for 2025, with Breeding named to the high-stakes Houston vs. Duke semifinal alongside Keith Kimble and Doug Shows.

According to a post on X by NCAA Men’s Final Four  “Officiating assignments for #MFinalFour weekend have been determined: Florida vs Auburn: Roger Ayers, Tony Padilla, Courtney Green, AJ Desai (standby) Houston vs Duke:Keith Kimble, James Breeding, Doug Shows, Michael Irving (standby)#NationalChampionship: Ron Groover, Doug Sirmons, Terry Oglesby, TBD (standby)”

Duke fans may see it as a silent edge. Critics call it something else. Because Breeding’s presence brings baggage.

According to a 2022 New York Times article Hunter Patterson said this about, Breeding “can be almost impossible to talk to. Difficult disposition.” That image—gruff, rigid, unswayed—has made him one of the most divisive figures in college basketball officiating.

To Auburn, he’s a villain. To the NCAA, he’s elite. “Similar to how teams advance in the tournament with exceptional performances, these officials have been deemed the best amongst their peers,” said Chris Rastatter, national coordinator of officiating, defending the committee’s Final Four picks.

But perception often trumps policy in college hoops. Especially when your season—or legacy—comes down to one whistle. And that’s why many in the basketball community are reeling. Because as Breeding returns to the biggest stage, the memory of that 2019 Auburn heartbreak isn’t just alive—it’s bleeding.

Duke may not have drawn the easier team. But they just might’ve drawn the better whistle. at least that’s what the fans think.

“The Fix Is In”: Fans Torch Officiating as Duke Advances Amid Whistle Controversy

One fan claimed: “The fix is in… Duke already the winner. Just hand them the trophy.”

And if you ask Arizona fans, they’d tell you that trophy might as well have come gift-wrapped. During Duke’s Sweet 16 win over Arizona, whistles weren’t just blowing—they were blowing inconsistently. After Arizona’s Jaden Bradley was hit with a flagrant 1 for pulling Duke’s Kon Knueppel down in a hook-and-hold, just minutes later, Duke’s Patrick Ngongba II did the same—dragging Arizona’s Henri Veesaar to the floor. Same play, different call. The refs reviewed it… and stuck with a common foul.

Even the CBS broadcast crew couldn’t hide their confusion. Social media? It exploded. The message was loud and clear: According to some fans when Duke plays, the rulebook feels flexible.

Another fan said: “James Breeding.” with a joker emoji
Just the name—no elaboration needed. Because in college basketball, that name alone brings the heat.

While Breeding hasn’t had a high-profile meltdown since his infamous 2019 Final Four whistle that haunted Auburn, his reputation hasn’t exactly aged quietly. In 2024, he made headlines again when Hurley quipped mid-game: “I was just kind of pointing out to [official] James [Breeding] that he was behaving worse than Coach Pitino.”

Classic Breeding—seasoned, stone-faced, and still stirring reactions. With Final Four assignments in 2019, 2021, 2022, and now 2025, he’s a veteran of the big stage—but not necessarily a fan favorite.

One fan summed it up: “Thank God Duke missed Tony Padilla.”

Yep—while some fans are sweating over Breeding, others are just relieved Duke dodged another controversial figure. In February 2025, Padilla triggered chaos in a tight matchup between Arizona and BYU. With just 3.2 seconds left, Padilla whistled Arizona’s Trey Townsend for a foul. BYU’s Richie Saunders sank both free throws, flipping the game 96–95 in BYU’s favor.The call? Hotly debated. The outrage? Immediate.

And it didn’t stop there—Padilla’s officiating drew more heat during Alabama’s 113–88 Sweet 16 win over BYU.

Another fan joked: “I see Duke picked up Doug Shows in the portal this week.”

Yep, even veteran ref Doug Shows isn’t safe. While he hasn’t racked up as many controversial moments as Padilla or Breeding, fans are already wary. When it comes to Duke, officiating paranoia runs deep.

And as one fan put it plainly:
“Officiating is going to go a long way to deciding the Duke-Houston game.”It always does—but this year, with these refs and these stakes? The whistle might just be louder than the final buzzer.