Notre Dame basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry went berserk during their loss to California after a controversial refereeing decision sparked chaos.
With five seconds remaining in Berkeley, a four-point play gave the Golden Bears a crucial 72-71 lead over the Fighting Irish, who blew a four-point lead in the final 16 seconds of the game on Friday night.
California guard Dai Dai Ames made the 3-pointer that initially drew the hosts level, only for referees to rule that Notre Dame’s Logan Imes had fouled him and then quickly reverse the call after deeming that the foul had occured before the shot, which would have negated the basket.
However, when Golden Bears coach Mark Madsen pleaded that it had happened during the shooting motion, the officials then reverted back to their original call – before Ames hit his free throw for the four-point play.
And after his team missed a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, which sealed the win for California, Shrewsberry immediately made a beeline for one of the referees.
The ball had barely landed in a California player’s hands before he ran towards the official in fury, with his fellow coaches darting over to desperately hold him back.
Notre Dame basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry went berserk during their loss to California
Shrewsberry made a beeline for an official over a controversial call that was reversed twice
Shrewsberry could now face punishment from the ACC ahead of their next game at home to Clemson on Saturday January 10.
‘I want to apologize for what took place immediately after the Cal game last night,’ he said in a statement on Saturday. ‘My actions were inappropriate and not symbolic of the leader I strive to be and what Notre Dame expects of its coaches and educators.
‘I will learn from this lack of judgement and be better in the future. I want to apologize to our team, our University and its leaders, to Coach Madsen and his team, and to the ACC, as my actions were unacceptable.’
After the game, opposite number Madsden said about the controversial ending to the game: ‘I thought there was a foul going up. I saw the officials signal it. They conversed a couple of times and they allowed it.
‘I think there is so much emotion in that gym for the officials, for me, for the other team, but I was grateful Dai Dai Ames rose up and made the shot and I was grateful that Dai Dai Ames had the maturity and the huge presence of mind, the composure, to knock down the free throw.’
Friday’s defeat leaves Notre Dame 10-5 for the season, while California extended their record to 13-2.