Sunday’s NCAA Tournament matchup between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the TCU Horned Frogs produced on of the worst bad beats of the college basketball season.
It was a back-and-forth affair for most of the game. However, the Bulldogs pulled ahead and looked to clearly be headed toward covering the -4.5 betting line as the favorites in the game.
Gonzaga guard Hunter Sallis made two free throws with less than a second remaining to put the Bulldogs up six. TCU essentially had nothing left to play for in the game.
However, with 0.7 seconds remaining, the Horned Frogs decided to roll the ball all the way up to the opposing three-point line, and TCU guard Damion Baugh proceeded to make a three-pointer at the buzzer, making the final score 84-81.
BAD BEAT ALL-TIMER! GONZAGA WAS -4.5 VS TCU! 🏀💸 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/vr7Uniel6C
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 20, 2023
This miraculous shot at the buzzer clearly had an effect on many bettors around the college basketball world. Many were either thrilled or absolutely heartbroken by this unbelievable final play.
Speechless. pic.twitter.com/qCOnb6rj02
— Jeremy S (@tribeTILLiDIE) March 20, 2023
Worst loss of my life
— JOE BARRY #1 FAN (@nellis_tweets) March 20, 2023
TCU +4. WHAT A MOMENT pic.twitter.com/L4rfHWRfBr
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) March 20, 2023
An all-timer!
Bad beat: Gonzaga -4.5
Backdoor cover: TCU +4.5pic.twitter.com/ZoBnkav0JT— Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) March 20, 2023
That #TCU three at the buzzer is why you don't bet on sports.
Wow.#BadBeat
— Jay Tust (@KTVBSportsGuy) March 20, 2023
Did you have Gonzaga -4.5 or TCU +4.5?
A brutal #MarchMadness beat or amazing final-second win.
Here was the crowd's reaction at @CircaSports in Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/8fpVSHMDPh
— VSiN (@VSiNLive) March 20, 2023
Games like this are why it is a much safer bet to just bet on the winner of the game. However, those who wanted to get a bang for their buck and took the spread on Gonzaga felt the wrath of an absolutely brutal bad beat.
Those who choose to do so will have another chance to bet on Gonzaga in their Sweet 16 matchup against UCLA where the Bruins will look to get redemption for their Final Four loss to Gonzaga last season.
[TBS]
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.