BYU Faces Critical Blow as Wisconsin Narrowing Down Sweet Sixteen Hopes
BYU plays a tense game. They seek to end a long Sweet Sixteen drought. Yet events shift play. Wisconsin gains strong momentum.
BYU holds a 10-point lead as the game goes into an under-four media timeout. Then Dawson Baker draws a Flagrant 2 foul. He is ejected. BYU’s hopes drop.
Baker gets caught by two Wisconsin defenders. He tries to escape their grip. To create space, he elbows one defender. The contact hits the defender’s groin. The officials find fault and call a Flagrant 2 foul.
CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore explains the rule. He says, "There is no middle ground with this kind of play." He adds that referees must watch the replay. They look at intent and the nature of the contact. If the act is not accidental, the refs must call a Flagrant 2. Steratore adds more. In his view, Baker tries to duck and split two defenders. The move may seem incidental. Yet the refs judge it as deliberate. They call it a Flagrant 2. Baker is sent from the game.
During the discussion, Wisconsin scores. They make both free throws from the foul. The pair of points cuts BYU’s lead to eight. This change marks a vital turning point. Wisconsin now aims for a comeback.
Baker’s exit brings more trouble for BYU. He leaves the game with eight points. He had hit three of five free throws but missed both three-point shots. His loss hurts the team. BYU needs depth in its rotation. Without Baker, their path to the Sweet Sixteen grows tougher.
As the clock winds down, BYU must hold their lead without a key player. Meanwhile, Wisconsin grows more energetic. The shifting game dynamics now favor the Badgers.
