I really would have liked to hear officials the explanations offered to Lazar after that fifth foul. In all my years of watching hoops I don't believe ever witnessed not just one but two refs come over to console a player with a pat on the back as he exited to the bench. They knew they blew it and blew it big time.
I thought the officiating was terrible, and it was the first game it really stood out to me. Too many instances where I felt MU got fouled on a drive and in the following possession UCONN would get the call that MU didn't. That type of inconsistency is what drives me nuts. The 5th for Lazar was a push off on UCONN if anything had to be called.
the officiating was very kohl center-esque, but then again i only went to a small private school. what do i know.
I am pretty sure if you watch the replay you can clearly see his shoulder blades pop out and hit the UCONN player whose forearm was clearly positioned slightly off his back. The refs didn't fall for Lazar's act of flailing forward as if the UCONN player pushed HIM from behind.
I tend not to comment on bad calls, feeling for the most part they even out.
That said, this was a call (Zar's 5th) that the ref had no business making. Completely out of line and irresponsible.