Arkansas’ Billy Richmond III given controversial Flagrant 2 call in loss to Arizona
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Arkansas’ season was already twisting to its bitter end late Thursday night in San Jose, but things went from bad to worse with 7:14 left in the 109-88 loss when Billy Richmond III was given a Flagrant 2 foul with the Razorbacks already down 19.
Richmond, a sophomore guard who is a vital piece for John Calipari, averaging 11.1 points per game, was ejected from the West Region semifinal, which completely took the air out of the Hogs’ cause as they tried to make a comeback against top-seeded Arizona.
That comeback never came, and here is a look at the controversial play involving Richmond, who argued the call but was sent to the locker room in a forgettable night for Arkansas.
It was at first called a personal foul, but after a review, the officials upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 2, sending Richmond to the showers and bringing some boos from the Hogs faithful who made the trip to San Jose.
Suddenly, it was 2 foul shots and the ball for an Arizona team that already was doing just fine before the questionable call.
Richmond finished with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, but his season ended on a horrible note and Arkansas’ run to a possible Final Four with Darius Acuff Jr. leading the way was short-circuited by the high-octane Wildcats.
With Arkansas going home and Arizona heading to the Elite 8 against Purdue on Saturday, here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about the top teams in the mix to get to Indianapolis next week:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
