Nebraska had only 4 defenders on the floor when Iowa iced Sweet 16 win with late bucket
With its season on the line, Nebraska made a critical unforced error in Thursday’s Sweet 16 loss to Iowa.
With the game in the balance and Iowa in possession of the ball, Nebraska took the court with only four defenders on the floor. Iowa took advantage with a breakaway and-one layup off an inbounds pass to ice a 77-71 win.
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The play took place with Iowa holding a 71-68 lead on an inbounds play under its own basket coming out of a timeout. There were 58.8 seconds remaining in the game.
Junior guard Kael Combs had the ball on the baseline and noticed Alvaro Folgueiras standing wide open over halfcourt. Nebraska only had four defenders on the floor, and nobody covered Folgueiras.
Folgueiras waved for the ball, and Combs hit him with a pinpoint down-court pass. Folgueiras ran uncontested to the rim before a trailing Berke Büyüktuncel caught up with him in time to foul him as he released his shot.
The layup went in, and Folgueiras hit the ensuing free throw for a three-point play and a 74-68 lead, and the game was virtually over from there. Instead of a chance for a stop with a three-point deficit, Nebraska allowed Iowa to take an easy six-point lead inside the final minute.
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Fred Hoiberg: ‘That one’s on me’
After the game, Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg took the blame for the mistake.
“Put that one on me,” Hoiberg said. “It was a miscommunication. I’m the head coach, and that one’s on me.”
Hoiberg was then asked whether officials made a mistake by not holding the ball until five players were on the court. He did not know if officials are required to do that.
“I’ve never been in a situation like that,” Hoiberg said. “I know they always count to make sure there’s not six. I don’t know the rule on that with with four.”
No. 9 Iowa advances to the South regional final, where it will take on the winner between No. 2 Houston and No. 3 Illinois with a trip to the Final Four at stake.
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Nebraska’s season, meanwhile, is over. The Cornhuskers completed a historic campaign in which they won the first two NCAA tournament games in program history. But they will leave the tournament with a bitter taste after their late-game collapse against the Hawkeyes.
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