What led Gonzaga to make an early exit in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night? An awful whistle on Chet Holmgren really did the Bulldogs in.
Holmgren is Gonzaga’s most impactful player on the defensive end, not to mention a versatile weapon on offense. But it’s hard to have an impact when you’re not on the floor.
Holmgren went scoreless in the first half and finished with 11 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks in just 23 minutes. He played four fewer minutes than his average thanks to the early foul trouble.
Holmgren was called for two fouls in the first 13 minutes of the game. Then he was called for his third early in the second half, and his fourth with just under nine minutes to go.
Holmgren was called for his fifth foul with 3:29 left and his team down 62-56. Many of the foul calls on Holmgren were ticky-tack, especially the last one.
College basketball officiating is broken and here are all five fouls on Chet Holmgren as exhibit A: pic.twitter.com/wN0j0ieLKL
— Bryan Matecun (@BryanMatecun) March 25, 2022
Here’s another look at the last foul:
Could someone please tell me where did Chet Holmgren commit the foul here? pic.twitter.com/W3A5O6pySc
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) March 25, 2022
You take Gonzaga’s best player off the floor, you open up the game for the other team. Arkansas completely took advantage and won 74-68, while Holmgren went home disappointed.
The NCAA shouldn’t at all be satisfied with the officiating in the game.
