Was it a flagrant foul, or was it a flop? When Tennessee big man Uros Plavsic is concerned, it can be difficult to decide, considering the elbows are always somewhat untethered to his body.
Midway through a second-half FAU Owls storm that resulted in a swelling lead (after the game had nearly slipped away earlier in the first half) the referees reconvened after a media timeout to add possession and two free throws to a seven-point Owl lead.
FAU’s Vladislav Goldin hit one of the two free throws … but did he earn them? You decide.
IT'S A 7-POINT LEAD FOR FAU 😱#MarchMadness @FAUMBB pic.twitter.com/1uwHgBhzDL
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 24, 2023
Tennessee Volunteers Uros Plavsic flagrant foul changes game vs. FAU Owls
Well, actually, the referees decided for you, so respectfully, your take doesn’t much matter. Orange-clad Vols fans both in attendance and abroad were remarkably confident in a flop from FAU’s big man, though it’s possible they’d been shown the wrong play (Goldin falling backwards on a shot attempt a few plays earlier).
With all due respect … this one was obvious. The elbow didn’t catch Goldin square, but it was fairly vicious.
I feel like hat flagrant foul is a direct result of all the whining about Tennessee's physicality the past few days. Not much there.
— Steve Layman (@SteveLayman) March 24, 2023
Who knew removing Duke from this tournament would actually result in more flopping, especially after the Vols intimidated them and knocked them out of the bracket?
This time around, the intimidation didn’t go so well — or, at least, it was picked up on by the referees in the nick of time.
Can the Owls finish off the upset? Will they be given another golden opportunity in a fit of volunteer rage? Somehow, the inexperienced Owls came up far bigger in the largest moments of this unconventional clash.