The Wisconsin Badgers "What If" Series — Ch. 2: What If the Refs Got it Right? The Blown Call That Cost Wisconsin a National Title—and Changed the Program Forever
From a missed call to a missed era: The fallout of the 2015 National Championship.
For many Wisconsin basketball fans, this isn’t just a “what if”—it’s a “what should have been.” If Chapter 1 was a fun fantasy about J.J. Watt, Chapter 2 is a deep dive into one of the most controversial moments in NCAA Championship history.
The Scene: April 6, 2015
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
The Situation: 1:53 remaining in the National Championship Game
The Score: Duke 63, Wisconsin 58
After trailing for much of the second half, Duke had just clawed their way into a 5-point lead. Wisconsin had the ball with a chance to make it a one-possession game. Bronson Koenig drove to the rim, missed a tough layup, and in the ensuing scramble, the ball flew out of bounds.
The Sliding Door Moment: “He Touched It”
The official on the floor ruled it Duke ball. However, because it was under 2 minutes, the play went to an automatic review. For over two minutes, the entire world watched the high-definition replay on their TVs: The ball clearly changed rotation as it grazed Justise Winslow’s finger.
Yet, the referees at the monitor claimed they didn’t have the “correct angle” and upheld the call.
