March Madness: Brady Manek’s ejection sent fans on Twitter into frenzy
Brady Manek got in on the March Madness on Saturday, as the UNC sharpshooter was called for a questionable flagrant 2 foul that sent fans on social media into a frenzy.
The eighth-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels prevailed against the top-seeded Baylor Bears on Saturday to advance to the Sweet 16, but that almost became a footnote to the drama that took place during the game.
In one of the worst officiated games in any sport that I’ve ever watched, a team of referees found a way to help Baylor claw back into a game that they once trailed by 25 points. The Bears were the beneficiary of countless 50/50 plays called in their favor and almost every single foul assessed over the game’s final 10 minutes in regulation.
It all began with the flagrant 2 foul heard ’round the world, a play in which North Carolina’s Brady Manek was ejected from the game midway through the second half after he’d lit the Bears up for 26 points and four three-pointers. The foul was called on the court and then reviewed at the scorer’s table, which ultimately led to the penalty that sent Manek to the locker room for the remainder of the game.
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Was Manek rightfully called for a foul? Absolutely. Did his elbow to the head of an opposing player warrant a flagrant 1? I’d say so. But was it a flagrant 2 that was worthy of removing him from what would have been his final collegiate game had the Tar Heels not prevailed in overtime? That’s highly debatable.
An argument can easily be made that it didn’t warrant a flagrant 2, especially considering that Marquette’s Darryl Morsell wasn’t ejected in the Round of 64 for his blatant chokehold of Caleb Love.
Following Manek’s ejection, fans of the Tar Heels and of college basketball, in general, took to social media to express their feelings about what they felt was a questionable call at best.
Brady Manek should not have been ejected. It was a complete accident. Flagrant 1, fine, Flagrant 2, absolutely not. UNC was up by 25, and Baylor has now cut it to 9 with 5:22 to go. I will be very upset if Baylor ends up winning, and I’m not a fan of either team.
— A.B. (@ABSports99) March 19, 2022
Brady Manek got hosed. Didn’t deserve a flagrant 2 and ejection.
— Curtis Fitzpatrick (@cfitzfox) March 19, 2022
Let's be clear here: Brady Manek was just ejected for a wrongly called flagrant 2 foul against a player who was only still in the game because his ACTUAL 1st-half F2 foul wasn't called an F2.
— DuhIdiot (@DuhIdiot) March 19, 2022
The flagrant 2 on Brady Manek is one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen. The NCAA has a referee problem.
— A Nobody’s Burner Account (@clevelandidiot) March 19, 2022
That Brady Manek ejection is horrible. Flagrant foul for sure, but the ejection is too much. Call the flagrant 1 and play on in this case
— Kelly Scott Assinesi (@CoachKAssinesi) March 19, 2022
That Brady Manek call was a bit excessive if you ask me. Officials need to use a little bit of common sense at some point. Flagrant 2’s should be reserved for intent to injure plays, not accidental elbows IMO.
— 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) March 19, 2022
I’m still heated about Brady Manek being tossed, flagrant 2’s are meant for players being swung on, not unintentional box-out elbows
— CCC🐅 (@ChiClemUCasual) March 19, 2022
A number of notable college basketball analysts and television personalities got in on the conversation, too, sharing their thoughts on the flagrant 2 foul and the manner in which the game was officiated as a whole.
Incredible game. Kudos to North Carolina for the upset. Kudos to Baylor for the comeback. Get that officiating crew out of the tournament.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 19, 2022
Manek ejection was a joke. Boxing out No-Look elbow is an ejection? GTFO
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) March 19, 2022
We’re really ejecting Brady Manek for that? Sometimes we need to use some common sense (I know that’s difficult with the rule book).
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 19, 2022
North Carolina and Baylor are playing a physical, tough, competitive game. But, it’s not basketball. It’s hockey and rugby. This has been happening all season, and needs to change.
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) March 19, 2022
"“. . . this has been happening all season,” Bilas went on to say. “This needs to change. The Rules Committee, the NCAA Supervisor, league Supervisors and commissioners need to change this, or there needs to be a change in leadership.”"
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