My takeaways

My takeways from Auburn's heartbreaking 63-62 loss to Virginia yesterday.

1.  Immediately after the game, I had no problem with the foul call on the three-point shot.  Technically, according to the rule book, it is a foul.  Plenty of people have said it is a foul.  However, as I think about it more, I disagree with the foul call more than I did yesterday.  The reason: The players should decide the game, especially a game of such importance, not the referees.  To call a foul that is arguably ticky-tacky in that situation is highly questionable.  Especially when the referees hadn't called many fouls all game.  I think that neither team reached the bonus in the first half and that Virginia wasn't in the bonus until less than a minute left in the game.  As the New York Post put it,  "was the right call... at the wrong moment."
2.  My biggest problem with the referees, more than the foul call on the three-pointer, was not calling the double dribble right before that.  It was an obvious double dribble, which if called would have given Auburn the ball with less than three seconds left.
3.  Auburn was 9 for 31 from three for 29%.  That hurt us.
4.  Before that last three point attempt, Jared Harper was 1 for 2 from the foul line.  If he makes both, the game goes to overtime.
5.  Auburn showed that it belongs on the national stage with the elites.  All season, this team was doubted and disrespected.  Hopefully, our tournament run changed that.  With the controversial end, people know that Auburn should have won and should be playing for a national title tomorrow.  Can Auburn make a run again next year?  It depends on whether Jared, Austin, and Chuma return.  It depends on how the five newcomers gel with the returning players.  More importantly, Pearl is building a program that should have continued success.