WATCH: Free throw in Kentucky-Providence NCAA Tournament game sits up on back of rim
It has been an odd NCAA Tournament insofar as interactions between the ball and the rim, with a plethora of “wedgies” — when the ball gets pinned between the side of the rim and the backboard — on Thursday. And now on Friday, a new phenomenon via the Kentucky–Providence game: A sitter.
Providence forward Clifton Moore was at the free throw line midway through the first half while the Friars held a 1-point lead. His attempt from the line rolled around the rim before eventually parking itself on the back of the iron.
On the call for CBS, Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkel were excited, with Eagle exclaiming “Oh, we’ve got a sitter! Nobody move.”
“A tournament sitter, a rarity,” Eagle said seconds later.
Kentucky took the lead on Providence shortly after the free throw oddity and carried it late into the first half.
It was not the first rim or net related faux pas of the day for the NCAA Tournament.
Late in the second half of Friday’s NCAA Tournament game between Iona and UConn, a net had to be replaced in the final seconds. The delay caused a timeout — and that’s when a hero swooped in to save the day.
“So, this is Frank,” TBS announcer Spero Dedes said. “He’s working on the netting here. He’s the house electrician.”
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The broadcast captured the moment the world met Frank the Electrician.
Frank sprung into action to fix the net with 3:02 to play as UConn held a 20-point lead over Iona. The broadcast captured the entire sequence as Frank replaced the old net with a new one. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed, either.
“We thank Frank for working as diligently and as quickly as he can,” Dedes said. “I think he’s doing great.”
“I’d like to have him come to my house and hang my Christmas lights next year,” said Dedes’ broadcast partner, Debbie Antonelli. “He’s doing a pretty good job.”
Back between the Wildcats and Friars, Kentucky went on to get the win, 61-53. Antonio Reeves led all scorers with 22 to power the Wildcats while All-American center Oscar Tshiebwe brought down 25 boards while chipping in eight points. Jacob Toppin added 18 points of his own for Kentucky. With the win, Kentucky moves on to face the winner of Kansas State versus Montana State.