I have seen a lot of griping from Baylor fans about the no-call near the end of the game. They are unsurprisingly blaming the refs for their loss, but it was a physical game and many potential fouls were not called for both teams throughout.

After rewatching the second half, I have to call into question Mulkey's decision making. Baylor was up 10 late in the 3rd quarter when Didi Richards left the game with a hamstring injury.

UConn proceeded to go on a 19-0 run ending the 3rd quarter 8-0 and starting the 4th quarter 11-0.

At no time during the run (lasting 5:21) did Mulkey call a timeout despite having 3 remaining. Obviously the break between the 3rd and 4th quarters provided a chance to regain composure, but it was clear that hadn't happened when UConn was still laying it on over 3 minutes into the 4th. Mulkey resorted to throwing a fit, as she regularly does, instead of attempting to calm and lead her team.

Additionally, she put an obviously injured Richards back in the game despite the fact that she could barely run with a heavy limp. Richards was useless defensively and could only pass on offense.

The refs didn't cost Baylor the game, Kim Mulkey did.

I am not a bu or a Mulkey fan,,,,far from it.

when Didi went down. we will never know if a time out would have helped
lessen the 19-0 run. Mulkey needed all 3 of her time outs at the end of the game. Uconn was out of time outs.

All coaches who win, claim there was a lot of calls that could have been differnt in the game.

I do believe Carrington was fouled at the end. We will never know if she would have made two free throws.

It appears to me that the refs typically swallow their whistles at the end of games to not be accused of determining the game outcome.

I am not sad that bu lost at all. I am for fairness and better refs. Reportedly, the refs told each team they were going to "let the teams play" prior to the tip. Knowing that, maybe Mulkey should have called a play that would likely not be as contested as one under the basket.

Both teams hit a low percent of their free throws, and bu lost on that as much as anything.

Second guessing is always fun.

Give me Kim Mulkey any day over some unaccomplished "sports" reporter from Duke who doesn't even enjoy sports. If you feel your calling as a sports reporter is to reprimand those actually in the arena because you are their better then "sports" was better off before you decided to comment on it.

And the biggest concern around the covid bubble in San Antonio and the Final 4 is how members of Arizona's bubble party interacted with people outside the bubble in the Alamadome.

Yes I saw the staff too they were right in front of me.

Kim Mulkey is a great coach. Can't debate that.

But I made the same observation as the poster above: how does she NOT call a timeout during a 19-0 run? Was she just sulking about her bad luck?

I mean, she was able to bring 5-star Sarah Andrews off the bench to replace Richards. And the team did eventually rebound to make it a game but the strategy there (and trying to bring Didi back in with a bad hamstring) was lost on me.

The angle of the twitter video that got around did NOT, in my opinion, show a foul. At least not one that will be called at the high D1 level -- men's or women's. Was there contact? Yes. Was it sufficient for a foul IN THAT SITUATION? I don't think so. Body contact is usually ignored if contact up high is mostly on the ball.

With that said, the other pic I saw from an angle NO official likely had showed the inside defender might have made contact with the shooter's elbow. A pic makes it hard to tell as the defender's hand is just barely on the elbow, if its on there at all. If that's the case, given the "protect the shooter" mantra that officials follow (and should follow at all levels of basketball) then yeah, a foul probably would be appropriate there, but again, I must stress: I don't think either potential calling official -- the lead (baseline) or the center (free throw line extended) could see that with the angle they had. Replay is not going to allow them to get into something like that, nor do you want it to.

The bottom line is this: if a foul call is made, we have the same twitter controversy, except it is: "the officials should not have made that call at that stage of the game; let the players decide;..." John Chaney, who coached at Temple, complained about that once. So have other coaches. Last second foul calls are rarely made and defenders and shooters know this. But defenders can't abuse the privilege and shooters have to go to the basket stronger and if double teamed, pass to the open player.

Fat Bib Fortuna said:

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If you can hit another player in the head with your arm while they are shooting and not get called for a foul, I would have made all-district in high school.

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Show me where there is a "hit to the head":

At the 4 second mark. Your witness.

At this stage of the game, refs have a tendency to let them play, BUT, did you expect a call against UConn?

I believe it was a foul on that last shot. And I loved the no-call and the ensuing Mulkey meltdown that comes after every time something does not go her way.