Illinois HC Brad Underwood Says Ref Admitted RJ Melendez Technical Was Wrong Call

It was too late for the referee who whistled the Illinois freshman for a technical foul in the NCAA men's tournament game against Houston.

After throwing down a two-handed jam in the second half, Melendez was punished for hanging on the rim.

The coach said the call was deflating and that the official told him he shouldn't have.

Brendan Quinn @BFQuinn

Brad Underwood on RJ Melendez's technical foul.• "Horrible."• Says it deflated Illinois' momentum.• Claims the official (Brian O'Connell) told him after the fact that he shouldn't have called it.

• Wonders is the call was "personal." pic.twitter.com/gnX82nowdD

O'Connell didn't address the technical in the moment.

Bret Beherns @WCIA3Bret

"I didn't get no explanation from the ref. I tried to ask the ref, 'What was it?' he didn't want to explain it to me"

The #Illini cut the lead to 46-42 off an RJ Melendez fast break dunk when he was whistled for a T, Brad Underwood:

"C'mon to kill momentum like that? Horrible" pic.twitter.com/oNmoFelNdN

It is difficult to know where the guard made a mistake. He couldn't let go of the rim without falling on his back because of his momentum. He did not hang on the rim for long.

Gene Steratore @GeneSteratore

Completely agree with @ReggieMillerTNT that this should not have been a technical foul on RJ Melendez.

RJ’s momentum carried him towards the basket and he didn’t hang for an extended period or in an unsporting fashion.#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/SukohTBggO

The call cost Illinois the game. The Fighting Illini shot 34 percent from the field. Kofi Cockburn scored in double figures.

It is fair to wonder how much impact the technical had. The break in play allowed Houston to reset, as Illinois continued to hang around, even though Shead sank a free throw to put Houston back up five.

In the immediate aftermath of the defeat, there is every reason to be angry.