There’s a growing trend in college athletics that needs to stop: coaches blaming officials for calls that are, quite frankly, the result of their own players making bad decisions.
After the Oklahoma State Cowgirls lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Kansas State Wildcats in the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament, head coach Jacie Hoyt made her feelings known.
“I am incredibly disappointed and embarrassed for the way that game ended,” Hoyt said. “To make that call in a game like that, you don’t do that.”
But here’s the reality: if a player reaches and commits an obvious foul with seconds remaining in a tie game, officials absolutely should make that call.
Moments before the controversial ending, Oklahoma State delivered a clutch moment, knocking down a three-pointer to tie the game with just 4.5 seconds left. It should have been the play everyone remembered from the sequence.
Instead, the game flipped in the final seconds because of a decision that simply can’t happen in that situation.
With just 1.3 seconds remaining, Stailee Heard attempted to swipe the ball away from Tess Heal, who was bringing the ball up the floor. The reach resulted in a clear foul call, the kind officials make hundreds of times a night across college basketball.
Heal, an 87% free-throw shooter, stepped to the line and calmly knocked down the first free throw, sealing the Wildcats’ win and sending Kansas State on to the tournament semifinals.
And that’s the part that gets lost when blame is directed at the officials.
The mistake wasn’t the whistle. The mistake was committing a foul 70 feet from the basket with 1.3 seconds remaining in a tied game.
That’s situational awareness, the kind coaches preach constantly. In those moments, the only objective is simple: don’t foul. Make the opponent take a desperation shot, send the game to overtime, and live with the result.
Instead, Oklahoma State handed Kansas State the game at the free-throw line.
Look, emotional reactions after tough losses are understandable. Coaches care deeply, and games decided in the final seconds sting. But pointing the finger at officials for making the correct call sends the wrong message.
Officials didn’t decide that game. A reach-in foul did.
Sometimes the better response isn’t blaming the whistle, it’s reminding players about the situation they’re in.
Don’t bellyache about the call. Make sure your team knows not to foul with 1.3 seconds left in a tie game.
Don’t point fingers.
Point thumbs at yourself.
