Mike YoderLouisville, Ky. ? Kansas sophomore guard Devonté Graham was called for his fifth foul with 0:45 left of what turned out to be a 64-59 loss to Villanova in the Elite Eight, Saturday night at KFC Yum! Center.
Graham appeared to get hit as he lost the basketball near mid-court on the play. He was called for a foul while diving for the ball and hit the leg of a ‘Nova player.
A foul on Villanova, with the Wildcats leading, 56-54, would have sent Graham to the line.
“It could have gone either way,” Graham said. “It definitely didn’t go our way.”
The sophomore guard was asked if he was hit and that’s why he lost the ball.
“It is what it is. He hit the ball according to the refs and I tripped the guy,” Graham said.
“I was surprised it was a foul. I thought he was going to call a travel at first or something like that. But I was definitely surprised it was a foul.”
Of some controversial calls, KU coach Bill Self said: “I thought he (Graham) made quick-hand great defensive plays that would have led to run-outs. Our run-outs turned to free throws for them. Maybe he fouled. I don’t know. About four plays could have gone either way throughout the game and it didn’t work out for us.”
Controversial call: From Terry Wymer, on the officials’ call with 34.1 seconds left in the second half:
“Kansas was in team control of the ball. The ball came loose and Kansas maintained the ball. Number four for Kansas (Graham) undercut number three for Villanova (Josh Hart). therefore it was a team control foul and they were not shooting a one-and-one. They never lost the ball. We (the officials) got together to review the sequences to make sure.”
— Obtained by USBWA pool reporter Pat Forde, Yahoo! Sports
— See what people were saying about KU’s Elite Eight loss during KUsports.com’s live coverage
