The San Diego State Aztecs and Creighton Bluejays gave fans quite a rock fight, but nothing could have prepared anyone for how this Elite 8 tournament game ended.
It was billed as hard-nosed defense against fast-paced offense. The immovable object meets the irresistable force when San Diego State and Creighton met in the 2023 NCAA Tournament Elite 8.
It was all that and more, with bodies constantly hitting the floor, tie-ups, blocked shots, and lots of frustration for two teams who usually shoot the ball better than the 40 and 37.9 percent that the Bluejays and Aztecs put up respectively.
But the end of the game was a microcosm of what had previously been seen, with SDSU hero Darrion Trammel making one of two free throws as time ticked down to just over a second. From there, chaos ensued.
It all started with the foul that sent Trammel to the line. This foul seemed a bit ticky-tacky to some for what had been a game of banging and grinding in the paint to that point.
Timmy B you know my disdain for the officials but he did grab him on the hip. pic.twitter.com/4TqWtQHxbz
— Jake “JBOY” Crain (@JakeCrain_) March 26, 2023
Look, that's legit. The game was officiated a certain way for 38 minutes. They did let them play. Nembhard contacted Trammell. By rule: foul. Would I have had the cojones to blow my whistle? No. But my officiating career ended in 6th grade when I ejected a dad at a baseball game https://t.co/sp9Se7y1AQ
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 26, 2023
You play 39:58 for THAT call to happen. Sorry for Creighton but they had been getting the calls all game. That’s a Shitty way to lose… Let’s go Miami!!
— CowboysSZN… (@Savages_94) March 26, 2023
Trammel sank the second of two free throws to put SDSU up by one, and then came the inbound pass from somewhere across the sea. In what looked more like a hail mary pass leading to a tip drill on the football field, Baylor Scheierman heaved the ball from one end of the court to the other.
Creighton’s in-bound attempt #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/awTPGJDYdB
— Aaron Torres Sports Podcast (@AaronTorresPod) March 26, 2023
The ball was tipped out of bounds, but by who? After long deliberation and monitor-scanning, the officials determined it was last touched by Creighton, and the game was over.
"They've determined it's over! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY, SAN DIEGO STATE IS GOING TO THE FINAL FOUR! A HEARTBREAKING LOSS FOR CREIGHTON!"- Ian Eagle 🏀🎙️ #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/oZY8X3hi6B
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 26, 2023
Fans were expectedly a bit unhappy with such as bland ending to what had been a really good game.
Man, I don't like @BluejayMBB but that's a tough way to go out.
— Adam Gilmore (@UnHappyGilmore7) March 26, 2023
This San Diego State-Creighton ending is just like the Chiefs-Eagles Super Bowl.
— Owen (@Alakazam_428) March 26, 2023
Does it hurt that both games, which were great, end in a way like that? Yes.
But it was pass interference. It was a foul. They have to get called, and they did.
It’s a foul, but to me it’s just one they can’t call bc of how they’ve called the rest of the game. If they called the rest of the game that way, Creighton probably shoots 20+ FTs easily.
— Kendall Phipps 🌵🏴☠️ (@kendall_phipps3) March 26, 2023
Opportunities like that come once in a lifetime. What a crushing way for Creighton to see it evaporate.
— Matt Schick (@ESPN_Schick) March 26, 2023
In the end, you have to tip your hat to both teams, but it really did seem like a rather unsatisfying way for Creighton to go out in a tournament that’s had so many satisfying moments in it.