The NCAA has officially sanctioned the officiating crew responsible for the controversial ending of last week’s Sweet 16 matchup between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Arizona State Sun Devils, a game that ended in a 74-73 loss for Kentucky and sparked national outrage among fans and analysts alike.
According to a statement released Monday morning, the NCAA’s internal review found “critical officiating errors in the final two minutes of the game” that directly impacted the outcome. Chief among the infractions were a missed goaltending call on Arizona State and an uncalled foul on Kentucky’s final possession, both of which have been heavily scrutinized in viral clips shared across social media.
As a result, the officiating crew—led by veteran referee Paul Denning—has been suspended for the remainder of the tournament and will be ineligible for postseason assignments through the 2025-26 season.
“This kind of performance does not meet the standards of fairness and integrity we demand from our officials,” said NCAA Vice President of Basketball Operations Carla Grant. “We owe it to the student-athletes, coaches, and fans to ensure the highest level of officiating in our championship events.”
Fan Backlash Reaches Boiling Point
The decision comes after days of intense backlash from Kentucky supporters, with protests erupting on campus and an online petition calling for a formal apology to the team amassing over 500,000 signatures in less than 48 hours.
“The players gave everything they had,” said Kentucky head coach Darnell Rivers in a press conference Sunday. “To see the season end that way—on missed calls that everyone can see plain as day—is just devastating.”
Prominent alumni and former Wildcats players have also spoken out, with NBA star DeAndre Wells calling the officiating “a disgrace to college basketball” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
While the sanctions offer a degree of accountability, fans remain unconvinced it’s enough.
“This doesn’t change the fact that our team was robbed of a chance to advance,” said Sarah Caldwell, a UK senior who attended the game. “They stole a moment we can never get back.”
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats finish the season with a 28-7 record, and with several key players eligible for the NBA Draft, questions loom about what next season’s roster will look like. Meanwhile, the NCAA faces mounting pressure to implement stricter oversight and potentially expand replay reviews in tournament play.
For now, the controversy stands as one of the most explosive officiating scandals in recent March Madness history—and a bitter ending to Kentucky’s promising run.
