Refs missed a blatant offensive foul call on Houston before game-winner vs. Purdue
Refs missed a blatant offensive foul call on Houston before game-winner vs. Purdue
Houston's incredible inbounds play to beat Purdue in the last second of their 2025 March Madness Sweet 16 matchup will be remembered forever.
But what may not be remembered is what happened before that with the game tied. Milos Uzan tried to drive against Braden Smith with the shot clock ticking down and bumped into him, sending Smith to the floor.
THE ELITE EIGHT TV SCHEDULE: Times, TV channels and matchups for March Madness
Replays showed that it wasn't just a bump. Uzan pushed off with his arm, and that should have been called an offensive foul. It wasn't, and the layup that won it for the Cougars sent Purdue packing.
Should it have been a foul? Purdue's Matt Painter said he didn't see it, so he couldn't comment on it. But we did and we can: that should have been an offensive foul:
Fans reacted to the no call from referees
Sure looked that way to me, too.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
7 hours ago
- Forbes
2025 NBA Free Agents: Teams Should Keep An Eye On This Forgotten Wing
HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 27: Jabari Smith Jr. #10 and Jae'Sean Tate #8 of the Houston Rockets react ... More against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at Toyota Center on December 27, 2024 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) With the 2024-25 season nearing its conclusion, it is time to start looking ahead to the offseason. In this article series, we will take a look at under-the-radar options in the 2025 Free Agency Pool. For the sake of simplicity, we are going to focus primarily on unrestricted free agents. The 2025 offseason projects to be a busy one for the suddenly formidable Houston Rockets. Among their myriad decisions to make over these next few months is whether or not they should bring unrestricted free agent Jae'Sean Tate back for his sixth season in Texas. Given how well-liked Tate seems to be by his teammates, the Rockets could very well want to bring him back on a team-friendly deal. However, with so many other young players to develop, Houston may opt to let him walk and focus on feeding their bigger fish. If the latter transpires, playoff teams across the land should be scouring to sign Tate this summer. Last season, Tate appeared in just 52 games, averaging 3.6 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 11.3 minutes of action. He also did not see a single second in the Rockets' first round series against the Golden State Warriors (although he was dealing with an ankle injury). What makes a player like this worth writing an entire article about? Well, before we discuss this, we need to address some critical context. In his essence, Tate is a defense-first wing/forward. Unfortunately for him, the Rockets are chock full of this exact player type, and all of them rank higher on the totem pole than Tate. Between Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Cam Whitmore (who isn't really a good defender but still ranks ahead of Tate on the depth chart because of his untapped potential), the Rockets simply don't have enough minutes for a guy like Tate. Basketball is all about building a balanced roster. The Rockets have too many players similar to Tate for him to be valuable to them. But just because one playoff team doesn't have much need for him doesn't mean another one won't. For his career, Tate is a 30.9% 3-point shooter. Once upon a time, that type of efficiency for a player of his usage would be a death sentence in the playoffs. However, given the rise of physicality over the last few years and the innovations in the field of cutting, Tate's strengths have become much more useful, and his weaknesses far less damaging. For about the last year and a half, the league has revised its officiating approach to allow for more physicality and fewer fouls. This has increased the value of defense-first players like Tate (96th percentile in Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus, per Dunks & Threes). Tate is also a serviceable cutter, as evidenced by his ability to get to the rim (78th percentile rim frequency, per Cleaning the Glass). His efficiency isn't as good, but that's likely a byproduct of the team's poor spacing. Clearly, though, he has the athleticism to find pockets of space and explode at the hoop, which should translate well to a team with less clutter inside. He was also in the 94th percentile in offensive rebounding rate among forwards (another indicator of his knack for cutting). What really draws me to Tate is his underrated skill with the ball. This season, he didn't get as many repetitions, but in 2023-24, his true shooting on drives was at 60%, which ranked in the 84th percentile leaguewide (per Thinking Basketball). So, if teams try to close out short to him, Tate has the ability to put the ball on the floor and bulldoze them with his powerful frame. Like many of the other names we will highlight in this series, Tate likely isn't a starting-caliber forward on a high-end team. But his high-end defensive impact coupled with his skills as a driver, cutter, and rebounder on offense gives him the makeup of a key rotational piece on a playoff team that isn't rich in wings/forwards like the Rockets (think a team like the Milwaukee Bucks or New York Knicks). And since his value has been diminished by the fact a logjam at forward made everyone forget about him, a team could nab this sneaky contributor for not too much more than the veteran minimum. That's a heck of a value for someone who, in the right matchup, could help swing a series.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
DKNG Q1 Earnings Call: Customer-Friendly Outcomes Drive Guidance Lower Despite Product Gains
Fantasy sports and betting company DraftKings (NASDAQ:DKNG) fell short of the market's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, but sales rose 19.9% year on year to $1.41 billion. The company's full-year revenue guidance of $6.3 billion at the midpoint came in 1.1% below analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.12 per share was in line with analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy DKNG? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $1.41 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.46 billion (19.9% year-on-year growth, 3.4% miss) Adjusted EPS: $0.12 vs analyst estimates of $0.12 (in line) Adjusted EBITDA: $102.6 million vs analyst estimates of $98.92 million (7.3% margin, 3.8% beat) The company dropped its revenue guidance for the full year to $6.3 billion at the midpoint from $6.45 billion, a 2.3% decrease EBITDA guidance for the full year is $850 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $910.4 million Operating Margin: -3.3%, up from -11.8% in the same quarter last year Monthly Unique Payers: 4.3 million, up 900,000 year on year Market Capitalization: $17.97 billion DraftKings' first quarter performance was shaped by a combination of increased product adoption and the impact of unpredictable sports outcomes. CEO Jason Robins explained that while product enhancements led to higher sportsbook hold percentages and more efficient promotional spending, customer-friendly results during March Madness significantly reduced actual hold relative to expectations. Robins emphasized, 'If not for customer-friendly sport outcomes in March, we would be raising our fiscal year 2025 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance.' The company also saw growth in live betting and improved efficiency in marketing, as recent acquisitions began to contribute positively to operational results. Looking forward, DraftKings' revised guidance reflects ongoing uncertainty around sports outcomes, evolving state tax and regulatory environments, and continued emphasis on product innovation. Management highlighted the company's commitment to optimizing promotional strategies and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to drive both revenue and operational efficiencies. CFO Alan Ellingson noted, 'We continue to expect sports book net revenue margin of 7% to 7.5% as we anticipate higher structural sports book hold percentage and increased promotional efficiency to offset the impacts from customer-friendly sports outcomes year-to-date.' The company expects to further integrate recent acquisitions and capitalize on advancements in live betting and AI-driven initiatives, while monitoring regulatory developments and market maturity across key states. Management attributed quarterly revenue growth and margin improvement to product-driven gains and promotional discipline, offset by unfavorable sports results and regulatory changes. Live betting acceleration: DraftKings saw a significant increase in live betting activity, with live handle surpassing 50% of total handle for the first time. This shift was attributed to recent product improvements and acquisitions, particularly in live betting technology, which management believes will continue to drive engagement and future growth. Product mix and parlay adoption: The company reported a higher mix of parlay bets, both among new and existing customers, contributing to increased sportsbook hold percentages. Management described this as a key lever for profitability and noted that customers continue using parlay products even after promotional incentives subside. Promotional spend optimization: DraftKings continued to reduce promotional reinvestments as a share of gross gaming revenue, reflecting the maturation of customer cohorts and more targeted marketing strategies. Management expects this trend to persist as newer states mature and the customer base becomes less reliant on promotions. AI integration and operational efficiency: The company has expanded its use of AI across business functions, improving both customer service and internal productivity. Management highlighted cost reductions and efficiency gains, with CEO Robins describing AI adoption as a "company-wide movement" that is reshaping how teams approach operational challenges. Regulatory and tax headwinds: Increases in state tax rates, such as in Maryland, and the exit of Jackpocket operations in certain markets negatively affected quarterly results. DraftKings is closely monitoring regulatory risks as states consider new taxes or changes that could impact profitability and competitive dynamics. DraftKings expects future performance to be driven by product innovation, operational efficiency, and market responses to regulatory and sports outcome variability. Expansion of live and in-play betting: Management believes growth in live betting, driven by technology investments and improved user experiences, will be a major contributor to handle and revenue. The company is targeting continued increases in live handle mix, inspired by higher adoption rates in more mature international markets. AI-driven operational gains: DraftKings is scaling its use of AI to enhance both customer-facing products and internal operations, aiming for efficiency improvements in areas such as customer service and risk management. Management expects these initiatives to reduce costs and support margin expansion, while also informing product development and betting models. Regulatory and tax environment: The company anticipates ongoing headwinds from state tax rate increases and evolving regulatory requirements. Management is focused on mitigating these impacts through product optimization, cost control, and advocacy to ensure a favorable operating landscape, while recognizing the risk of further tax changes and competition from illegal markets. In upcoming quarters, the StockStory team will be watching (1) the continued growth and profitability of live and in-play betting, (2) the impact of AI-driven operational efficiencies on margins and customer experience, and (3) the company's ability to navigate regulatory and tax changes across key states. Progress in integrating recent acquisitions and expanding new product offerings will also be important indicators of execution. DraftKings currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 22.2×. Should you double down or take your chips? Find out in our full research report (it's free). The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros play in game 2 of series
Chicago White Sox (23-44, fifth in the AL Central) vs. Houston Astros (36-30, first in the AL West) Houston; Wednesday, 8:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: White Sox: Sean Burke (3-6, 4.03 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 50 strikeouts); Astros: Ryan Gusto (3-3, 4.78 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 45 strikeouts) Advertisement BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -181, White Sox +150; over/under is 8 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago White Sox meet the Houston Astros leading the series 1-0. Houston is 36-30 overall and 22-13 in home games. The Astros are 19-4 in games when they did not give up a home run. Chicago is 23-44 overall and 7-26 on the road. The White Sox are 4-16 in games decided by one run. The teams square off Wednesday for the fifth time this season. The White Sox lead the season series 3-1. TOP PERFORMERS: Jose Altuve has six doubles, nine home runs and 24 RBIs for the Astros. Yainer Diaz is 10 for 39 with three home runs over the past 10 games. Advertisement Chase Meidroth has five doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs while hitting .293 for the White Sox. Andrew Benintendi is 9 for 35 with four doubles over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 6-4, .227 batting average, 3.44 ERA, outscored by five runs White Sox: 5-5, .226 batting average, 4.04 ERA, even run differential INJURIES: Astros: Chas McCormick: 10-Day IL (oblique), Ronel Blanco: 60-Day IL (elbow), Zach Dezenzo: 10-Day IL (hand), Hayden Wesneski: 60-Day IL (elbow), Yordan Alvarez: 10-Day IL (hand), Spencer Arrighetti: 15-Day IL (thumb), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (elbow), J.P. France: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Taylor Trammell: 10-Day IL (calf), Pedro Leon: 10-Day IL (knee) Advertisement White Sox: Jared Shuster: 15-Day IL (hand), Fraser Ellard: 60-Day IL (lat), Ky Bush: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lenyn Sosa: 10-Day IL (hip), Miguel Castro: 60-Day IL (knee), Jonathan Cannon: 15-Day IL (back), Tyler Gilbert: 15-Day IL (knee), Martin Perez: 60-Day IL (forearm), Drew Thorpe: 60-Day IL (elbow), Prelander Berroa: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jesse Scholtens: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
