Chet Holmgren will most likely play his next basketball game as a pro, possibly with the first pick in the NBA draft. But his last college game was marred by two horrendous foul calls that sent him out of the game early.
During Gonzaga’s 74–68 loss to Arkansas at the March 16 Sweet Madness 2022, the seven-footer committed two fouls in the first half and a third early in the second. But as he began to get into a shooting rhythm, he was called out for a fourth foul in which he appeared to be doing nothing but solid defense.
If anything, it looks like Toney’s O’Deas of Arkansas could have been charged with an offensive foul for attacking Holmgren’s chest. But he called anyway, forcing Holmgren to play cautiously for the remainder of the game.
Which he did. And yet, a little later, he was somehow called for an equally dubious foul:
Of course, it seemed that Holmgren went straight up, but the officials decided otherwise. And it was a logical decision – the call knocked the star center out of the game.
Gonzaga was six points behind when Holmgren fouled and ended up losing six. Any hope of a return was extinguished.
The Bulldogs shot just 37.5% from the field — well below their season average and what they managed in their first two games — and their shooting problems were much more to blame for another disappointing NCAA Tournament loss. But Holmgren must be disappointed that he couldn’t help his team.
Arkansas is now advancing to the Elite Eight, where they will face Mike Krzyszewski and Duke, who edged out Texas Tech on Thursday night.