No question Riley was fouled

Published: March 25, 2008

The NCAA allowed a pool reporter to ask the officiating crew about the whistle that resulted in Riley's game-winning foul shot with .7 seconds left in overtime. Officials watched video replays and conferred for a couple of minutes before awarding Riley the free throws.

"There was no question that there was contact that warranted a foul call,” Newton said. "We're permitted in certain circumstances to go to the monitor ... to determine whether a foul occurred before the reading of zeroes on the game clock.”

Official Teresa Dahlem called the foul on Florida State's Shante Williams about 17 feet from the basket.

"When she takes it to the last second, we're hoping the call comes,” said OSU coach Kurt Budke. "She's either going to get off a clean shot, or they're going to foul her. That's why we call the play, for the foul.

"I feel sorry for Florida State. It's a tough way to end your year. There's no question about that. A great coach. A great program. They're going to be back. But that's (why) we run that play, just for that.”

Florida State coach Sue Semrau took the high road. Her argument is there should have been 1.9 seconds put on the clock.

"The officials came over and said there was time on the clock,” Semrau said. "The officials are the authority on the clock.”

By Mike Baldwin

Toolbar sponsored by: David Stanley Ford

Comments