UConn Huskies are having far from an ideal season. As the season has progressed, their ambitions for a third title in a row have been questionable, and on Saturday, they made history of a different kind. On the road against Seton Hall, they squandered multiple late leads before falling to a  69-68 overtime loss. This was the second-worst loss in the KenPom era, which dates back to 1997, with Seton Hall currently ranked No. 213 in KenPom. However, there was more to the game other than UConn’s surprise defeat, with the last two minutes of the contest once again dragging the game beyond ideal time.

The outcome of the UConn-Seton game might look thrilling, but for the fans, the excitement was drawn out as the minutes stretched. The problem with the replay review system is how it is operated. The last two-minute review system was introduced to help the refs spot “clear and obvious”  but if it takes more than 5 minutes to make that decision. Can we really say it was clear and obvious? Something that perhaps should not take more than 2-3 minutes ends up taking well over 5 minutes. Add a few such incidents, and we are looking at a two-hour game stretching way beyond, leading to discontent from the viewers.

Just last year, the NCAA introduced an expanded video replay review that would allow officials to determine if a player’s foot was inbounds on a made shot before the clock expired. The committee approved it as another tool for the officials to get the call right. But looks like the measures have been taking a hit, ruining the fun for some. Keith Taylor, an award-winning journalist, summed it up on X:

“There is no way a college basketball game should take almost 3 hours to complete. Replays are destroying the game.” His tweet echoed the sentiment of fans nationwide, who watched UConn’s dramatic collapse unfold.

The second half was a rollercoaster. UConn, trailing for most of the game, clawed back behind Alex Karaban’s 20-point effort and Hassan Diarra’s clutch free throws. With under a minute left, UConn led 57-50, but Seton Hall’s Dylan Addae-Wusu had other plans. He scored eight points in the final 40 seconds, including a game-tying three with five seconds left, forcing overtime.

In OT, UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. gave the Huskies a 68-63 lead with a reverse layup. But Seton Hall’s relentless defense and UConn’s inability to inbound the ball proved costly. A five-second violation, a full-court pass gone wrong, and a critical turnover sealed their fate. Seton Hall’s Scott Middleton tapped in the game-winner with three seconds left.

This wasn’t just another loss. UConn’s road struggles against Seton Hall continued, marking their fourth straight defeat in New Jersey and 8th for the season. The Huskies’ 16 turnovers and 37% shooting didn’t help, but the real story was the game’s pacing. Replays disrupted the flow and the fans weren’t having it. 

UConn’s marathon meltdown: Fans demand NCAA fix 

The iconic college football rivalry game between Alabama and Auburn lasts an easy 3.2 hours. But add the festivities around it and you have found yourself in for hours more. The UConn vs Seton Hall game stretched so long, it had a fan remembering the Iron Bowl. “Almost as long as the real Iron Bowl,” a fan vented.

But looks like regular football games are being played to those minutes too. “Worse with football. It’s 4-4.5 hours of my life now to watch a game,” another added. 

The review replays in basketball, however, have long been a concern. In 2021, during a game between Wisconsin and Iowa, the final minute was reportedly dragged to 20 minutes. Colorado Coach Tad Boyle had spoken up, saying that the way a replay is handled needs to be changed. Years in, the sighs continue to flow in.

“Men’s college basketball has to do something about the length of these games. Idk what’s going on but every game this season is taking SO long to finish,” another expressed. 

An incident from last month highlighted another issue with the replay review system. During the Seton Hall vs Providence game, the referee called a foul on Friars guard Jayden Pierre. However, a replay review followed and the referee went to the monitor and eventually overturned the decision to a shooting foul.

An angry fan also wrote, “Replays are destroying more than just basketball .. Technology isn’t always the answer. Let them play and if there’s blood, call a foul. Damn.”

Meanwhile, all the blame was not on the refs for the UConn game. “That was a terrible game to watch,” a user bluntly put. “The replays are ridiculous, but it also seems like there’s more fouling than ever,” a fan expressed. There were 15 fouls called for each team on Saturday night with a total of 37 free throw attempts. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee meets up every two years to discuss rule changes and it looks like they have a major concern to address for their next convention.