Watch the Controversial Call in the Arkansas-Seton Hall Game That Has Twitter Screaming

The 2017 NCAA Tournament had its first controversial call on Friday afternoon, and it sparked a passionate debate on Twitter between fans who thought the call was correct, and those who thought the refs got it wrong.

With 18.3 seconds remaining and his team trailing by one, Desi Rodriguez of Seton Hall put two hands on the back of Jaylen Barford of Arkansas, who tripped and fell forward. The referees initially ruled that the play was a conventional foul.

But upon video replay review, the refs changed their minds, and deemed the offense a flagrant 1 foul.

The changed call effectively killed Seton Hall’s chances in the game. Arkansas was awarded two free throws and the basketball, allowing them to take a two-possession lead which Seton Hall simply couldn’t overcome.

The conversation on Twitter was intense. Some fans thought that given the time left in the game and the situation (as well as the original call on the court), it was wrong to basically end Seton Hall’s chances in that spot on what was a pretty soft foul. Others believed that the refs adhered to the letter of the law.

Here’s a sampling of the reaction:

Horrendous flagrant foul call in Arkansas-Seton Hall. It would be like calling that last foul in NU-Vandy a flagrant 1.

— J.A. Adande (@jadande) March 17, 2017

That flagrant foul call on Seton Hall is one of the worst end of game calls I have ever seen in my entire life. I am not underselling this.

— John Schmeelk (@Schmeelk) March 17, 2017

What an awful call to end that Seton Hall game, total garbage

— Adam Reckamp (@AdamReckamp) March 17, 2017

That's just a brutal call for Seton Hall. Wow.

— SI College Hoops (@si_ncaabb) March 17, 2017

Absolutely correct call.

Seton Hall has been so careless.

— Matt Zemek (@MattZemek) March 17, 2017

What an absolute horrific call by the officials on #SetonHall .. No damn way that was a "Flagrant 1" foul at the end of the game. #pathetic

— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) March 17, 2017

That's a terrible call against Seton Hall. Let the players decide the game. #marchmadness

— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) March 17, 2017

Hated Flagrant 1 call on Seton Hall until TNT showed the definition of Flagrant 1, which is pretty much exactly what happened on that play.

— Mark Titus (@clubtrillion) March 17, 2017

Just saw that Seton Hall flagrant foul. It's clearly the right call. What are people complaining about here?

— Ben Roberts (@BenRobertsHL) March 17, 2017

Seton hall player gotta go for the ball on that foul that's flagrant son

— BenG (@BGautschy) March 17, 2017

So what do you think? Watch above, via TNT.

[featured image via screengrab]

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Follow Joe DePaolo (@joe_depaolo) on Twitter

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