Vanderbilt and Nebraska performed probably the most thrilling recreation of the 2026 males’s NCAA match on Saturday evening with a Candy 16 berth on the road. The ultimate two minutes had 4 lead adjustments with each side hitting huge pictures that felt like they swung the tide of the sport. Nebraska took the lead for good on an acrobatic layup by freshman star Brendan Frager with two seconds left. Vanderbilt had one final probability, however Tyler Tanner’s heave from past halfcourt went in-and-out.
Watch Tanner’s final second shot right here. This got here so so so near successful the sport for Vanderbilt on the buzzer.
This freeze body is even wilder. Tanner’s shot was within the rattling basket. By some means, it bounced out.
There’s a preferred conspiracy idea for why Tanner’s shot didn’t drop, and it goes again to one of many match’s ongoing controversies up to now.
The balls have been overinflated throughout March Insanity, and gamers have been speaking it since they arrived on the regionals. This has been occurring for at the least the previous few years in the course of the match, and it takes a serious adjustment from gamers who’re used to the ball feeling a sure means.
Simply have a look at how excessive these balls are bouncing:
There’s little doubt that the NCAA match balls are extra inflated than the standard recreation ball used in the course of the season. Is that why Tanner’s shot didn’t go in? There’s lots of people who consider it. Even Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg acknowledged Tanner’s shot might have rimmed out because of the inflation stage of the ball.
And right here’s some on-line response:
We’ll by no means know if Tanner’s shot would have dropped if the ball was inflated at its regular stage. It might have been one of many best pictures in NCAA match historical past if it went in, however as an alternative it turns into the most important “what if” second of this match up to now.
