“I think we secured a one seed today. That’s my opinion,” the Florida HC said as they pushed out Alabama for the SEC tourney finals. Well, Todd Golden, you secured a little more than that today. Last no.1-seeded aside, the nation’s best defense fell 65-63 in a thriller deserving of March Madness hype. Down by as many as 12 points at one point, the Gators never panicked. Instead, they clawed back possession by possession. Their grit and composure led to the third-largest comeback in the big dance history and secured their third championship. But things could have been very different if Emanuel Sharp had maintained his composure on the ball.

With just 40 seconds remaining and Houston trailing by 1 point, it was junior guard Sharp who made two costly mistakes that ultimately sealed the Cougars’ fate. With this heartbreaking loss, Houston falls to 0-3 in national championships, remaining the only team to have made 7 Final Fours without ever securing the title.

All season long, Sharp had been one of the standout players for Houston. He was the second-highest scorer for the Cougars, averaging 12.8 points per game while shooting 42.3% from the field. His 16 points against Duke were crucial in propelling Houston to the finals. But unfortunately, history won’t remember him for that.

You can’t help but feel for the Cougars, who overcame countless obstacles to make it to the championship game. But fans aren’t holding back their frustration. Sharp’s turnovers and a critical mistake on the final play of the game cost Houston the championship, and now he’s the target of widespread criticism.

Fans fume as Emanuel Sharp costs Houston the title

Fans were clearly frustrated, and they didn’t hold back. “Emmanuel Sharp really choked it away,” one fan commented. Another fan joined in, saying, “I’m crying real tears man. Emanuel Sharp actually did that for game…”

With under five seconds remaining, he had a chance to take a long-range 3-pointer, but instead, he hesitated and pulled the ball down, opting not to take the shot. This decision meant he couldn’t touch the ball, or it would be a turnover, causing the clock to run out and sealing the loss for Houston. But that wasn’t the only mistake. Earlier in the game, on Houston’s penultimate offensive possession, Sharp lost control of the ball while trying to drive through three Gators defenders, turning it over to Florida.

Such costly mistakes were bound to stir up some controversy, and sure enough, it didn’t take long for conspiracy theorists to jump in. One fan joked, “Yo, the NCAA gotta investigate Emanuel Sharp 😭😭😭😭,” bringing attention to his birthplace. Another fan joined in with, “The city of Tampa no longer claims Emmanuel Sharp.”

For those unaware, Emanuel Sharp was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. Given that his opponents were the Florida Gators, his roots became a talking point. To make matters worse, Sharp had his worst performance of the Big Dance in the championship game, shooting just 27% from the field and scoring only 8 points–the joint lowest he’s scored throughout the tournament. It was the kind of performance that only intensified the conspiracy theories surrounding him.

But that’s the nature of March Madness—one day you’re the hero, the next, the villain. Jon Rothstein put it perfectly, saying, “My heart breaks for Emanuel Sharp right now. This is the dark side of the NCAA Tournament. Inconsolable after that final play.” Just two nights ago, it was Tyrese Proctor who became the villain after missing two crucial free throws, which helped the Cougars win. And tonight, it was Sharp who took that mantle, becoming the villain in the eyes of the basketball world.