Samford coach ‘not faulting’ refs’ serious unfavorable call

SALT LAKE CITY — Samford coach Bucky McMillan did not are searching for to notify whether officers had been substandard when they known as a unfavorable on A.J. Staton-McCray after he attempted to block a dunk by Kansas guard Nic Timberlake.

What the fourth-365 days coach did impart after 13th-seeded Samford fell searching upsetting fourth-seeded Kansas 93-89 on Thursday changed into that if the block changed into excellent, the Bulldogs would’ve been going thoroughly different device, down a degree, 5 on four, with a broad gamble to whisk to the second spherical of the NCAA tournament.

“That’s how end the game changed into,” McMillan said. “That’s how properly our guys played. What changed into the most we had been down? We had been down by 22. We’re going to have the ball there with a important replace.

“It is far what it’s miles.”

Sooner or later of his postgame news conference, a downhearted McMillan changed into cautious not to attach blame on the officers.

“I have seen the play,” he said. “I notion A.J. made an improbable play on it, you know what I am announcing? I am not faulting the choice. Another folks can look for it thoroughly replace ways. But I changed into in fact joyful with our guys’ capability to whisk create a play.”

Timberlake said he changed into “positively” fouled on the play.

And Kansas coach Invoice Self sidestepped discussing the particular unfavorable when requested if he had a dazzling scrutinize of the dunk.

“I notion Nic attacked the basket properly,” Self said. “He’s an spectacular better athlete than what rather a great deal of alternative folks judge. He attacked it stable, simply savor he ought to.”

Samford shot its device abet into the game from long distance. The Bulldogs accomplished with 16 3-pointers, 10 extra than the Jayhawks, leading Self to notify it changed into “excellent” that Kansas obtained no matter the disparity from long vary. The Bulldogs hit eight 3-pointers throughout their comeback from 22 down, which started with about 16 minutes left.

Samford changed into pesky for a great deal of of the game, utilizing a full-courtroom press on makes and misses that McMillan has made the identification of his crew. It ended in seven steals, which grew to become into 15 factors off turnovers.

“That’s my first journey with Bucky ball,” Self said. “I would possibly possibly also as almost today not play in opposition to it again for a while.

“It be a unheard of sport for us with itsy-bitsy or no depth. It be a ought to to play guys your total sport. We knew it will likely be savor that. There would possibly possibly be simply never a spoil within the action where that you just can compile your breath.”

The Bulldogs couldn’t compete with the Jayhawks’ dimension. Kansas had 54 factors within the paint, spearheaded by heart Hunter Dickinson‘s 19 factors and 20 rebounds. He changed into one of 5 Jayhawks in double digits, led by K.J. Adams Jr.‘s 20.

The Bulldogs had been led by Achor Achor‘s 23 factors and Jaden Campbell‘s 18. Freshman Riley Allenspach had 15 on an surprising 4-of-4 shooting from 3-point vary. He got here into the NCAA tournament having made 6-of-25 throughout the season.

All of Allenspach’s 3s got here throughout Samford’s trudge to within the reduction of its deficit to at least one point.

That ended in the game-deciding play with 14.7 seconds left. Samford had reach inside one for the second time in a span of 5 minutes. After the unfavorable call, Timberlake hit both free throws to lengthen the Jayhawks’ advantage to 92-89. A 3-point strive from Jermaine Marshall with about six seconds left fell rapid, and Kansas obtained a bolt to the corner for the possession.

“I judge our guys in fact believed they had been going to get,” McMillan said. “I even felt at halftime, if you happen to would have requested me, I changed into very assured we had been going to get. Then after we within the reduction of it, we had the total momentum, I notion we would get.

“When we did not get, I changed into shy we did not get.”