NCAAM teams
Andy Katz, ESPN Senior Writer 11y

Tad Boyle wants end to replay

Men's College Basketball, Arizona Wildcats, Colorado Buffaloes

It's fair to say Colorado coach Tad Boyle was frustrated by the officials' decision to use an inconclusive replay of a potential game-winning 3-pointer to reverse an on-court call at the end of Thursday's game against Arizona.

How frustrated?

Enough that he wants college basketball to take a dramatic step: Don't go to the monitor to decide a game on such a close call.

"Get rid of instant replay," Boyle told ESPN.com by phone from Tucson. "In basketball, football, human error is part of our game. If human error is part of the game, let the officials call the game. Players, coaches and officials will make mistakes. It's part of the game.

"We spend all this money on replays and we still can't get it right. Get rid of it."

Boyle hadn't seen the replay of Sabatino Chen's buzzer-beating 3-point bank shot until well after the game.

The shot, waved off by officials after a lengthy review, would have handed the Buffaloes a stunning 83-80 victory over No. 3 Arizona in the Pac-12 opener in Tucson.

Instead, Arizona completed a 17-point comeback to win 92-83 in overtime and remain undefeated.

"After the game, I was disappointed in myself and in the way we played down the stretch, but I hadn't seen the replay," Boyle said. "That was like a shot to the gut. We're going to move on and not cry about it and not complain about it, and we'll take it like men and hopefully get better."

Pac-12 coordinator of officials Ed Rush issued the following statement on Friday:

"Game officials reviewed video replays of the end of regulation in accordance with NCAA playing rules and determined the ball was still on the shooters' fingertips when the official game clock on the floor expired. Per Conference protocol, the officials conducted a thorough review court side and viewed multiple angles of the play before confirming the ruling. I have reviewed the video replays and agree with the ruling."

Boyle said he would call Rush on Friday morning.

"I would like an explanation," Boyle said. "I think the University of Colorado deserves one and the players and administration and student body and everybody involved in Buff Nation deserves an explanation. It's not going to change the result. I've never been involved in something like this."

Boyle said he couldn't tell from his sideline vantage point whether the shot was good. He said the ball went in and it was a "bang-bang call" of it being good.

"(Arizona coach) Sean Miller thought it was good," Boyle said. "The refs called it good. Then they just waved it off and said the bucket was no good."

Boyle said the Buffaloes do take responsibility for squandering the 17-point lead, adding if "we rebound the basketball and make free throws (17-of-29), we win the game. We could have done things to prevent it to coming down to this.

"Our players gave an unbelievable effort and fought, but we didn't win. We're going to have to learn from ourselves. We have to play better and we understand that."

Colorado's Andre Roberson fouled out and didn't play in overtime, which made winning the game even more difficult. Missed baskets and quick shots also hurt the Buffs' chances.

Arizona did to Colorado what it had done to Florida on the same floor last month -- came back from a deficit, used pressure and made key timely baskets for a thrilling win.

Colorado and Arizona may be on to a new rivalry in the Pac-12. Last March, the Buffaloes beat Arizona 53-51 to win the Pac-12 tournament in Los Angeles after the teams split the regular-season series.

"I don't know if there is or if there isn't a rivalry, but other than the game here last year, every game has been close," Boyle said. "This is a tough place to play, and we did well enough to win."

Boyle is hoping this controversial loss doesn't hurt Colorado in the NCAA tournament selection process. Colorado, which failed to receive a bid two years ago despite a 21-win season, has neutral-court wins over Baylor and Murray State to win the Charleston Classic, and a home win over Colorado State.

"We got screwed two years ago," Boyle said. "Nobody can tell me different. A lot of people who understand college basketball know that. Obviously, the committee didn't know that.

"This stings. Get this and it's a feather in your cap down the road. But it's one game and it's not going to make or break our season. It wouldn't have made our season. We still have to go to Arizona State on Sunday. This is not something that we're going to lose sleep over. We'll move forward and hopefully it will fuel our fire."

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