Download the CBS Sports App today and get instant tournament news and alerts, plus get the latest picks and upsets from SportsLine!
Seton Hall hasn’t won a game in the NCAA Tournament since 2004, a drought that will continue after one more year after Friday’s 77-71 loss to No. 8 seed Arkansas in the South Regional, and helped along by a controversial flagrant-1 foul call.
With 18.3 seconds left and Seton Hall down 74-71, the Pirates had to foul to regain possession. But a foul called on Desi Rodriguez against Jaylen Barford was reviewed and deemed flagrant by the officiating crew, not only sending Arkansas to the line, but giving the Razorbacks possession after Barford made two free throws.
By definition, a flagrant-1 is to be considered excessive or severe during live ball contact. And it’s arguable neither the initial foul nor the incidental trip were enough to warrant that call. The problem is that you can’t gauge intent, which looked worse because of the hard fall. In this case, it the officials ruled there was enough for the flagrant interpretation, which basically put the game out of reach for Seton Hall.
Give Arkansas credit for capitalizing. On Arkansas’ ensuing possession, Daryl Macon was fouled and missed his free throw, but made up for it by making his next after a dead ball rebound to put the team up 75-71. Seton Hall’s attempt at cutting the game to one possession failed with a missed three-pointer with under 15 seconds, and the Pirates would go on to lose the game 77-71.