Nebraska did not play well...I feel we played hard for the most part (gave up a few points that were just pathetic)...but overall I think the team played hard. Sloppy & undisciplined come to mind...the players had never played in a NCAA tournament game before so probably got too psyched out & that may have contributed to playing bad in the first half. If Nebraska plays like they did against Wisconsin, we should win anyway...no arguments there. We brought our C- or our D game...I watched us beat Wisconsin, I know the team is capable of playing better than that. Baylor also didn't play great but still won.
However, it doesn't change the fact that officiating egregiously altered the outcome of the game. For crying out loud, our head coach got EJECTED for pointing out the officials failed to start the shot clock. Argue that he shouldn't have left the coaches box all you want...it doesn't change the fact that (per the rules) the ball should not even be in play if the shot clock has not started...so given the ball is not legally in play Tim Miles has every right to do what is necessary to correct this error. You cannot argue this unless you want to argue that Baylor should have all day to shoot while Nebraska has to abide by the :35 shot clock rule. And to top this off, Baylor was awarded 3 free throws for this. What should have happened is it should have been corrected & the missed time should have been put back on the game clock & Baylor should have had to re-inbound the ball.
Here are the official foul stats. These are accurate - I went to espn.com, clicked the play-by-play on the Nebraska game & counted the fouls committed by each team. In the first half, Nebraska was called for 13 fouls, Baylor 10. In the second half, Nebraska was called for 18 fouls & Baylor was called for 6. If you count Tim Miles 2 technical fouls, that 2nd half stat becomes 20-6. Baylor won 74-60. Baylor was awarded 48 free throws throughout the course of the game, while Nebraska was awarded 16.
Yes, Nebraska lost. I am not a person who likes blaming a loss on officiating. I also understand there is no such thing as a perfectly officiated basketball game. Mistakes will be made. Having watched the entirely of the game (all 40 minutes) & having just looked up the official stats on the fouls (per the espn website)...It is my opinion that the officiating altered the outcome of this game in an egregious manner.
EDIT - My solution to this (which will never happen). Fire the head official, make it so he will never be allowed to officiate a basketball game for the remainder of his life. And make it clear to all other NCAA officials that the same will happen to you (the head official presiding over any NCAA game), if it is determined by a committee (in charge of such) that the same has occurred in any future game.