The NCAA did not include veteran official Roger Ayers among the referees selected to work the men’s Final Four, a decision announced Monday that follows a widely circulated interaction with UConn Huskies coach Dan Hurley.
Ayers, who has officiated seven Final Fours, including last year’s, was not among the 11 officials named for the national semifinals. The NCAA did not provide a specific reason for his omission.
The announcement came one day after the UConn Huskies rallied from a 19-point deficit to defeat the Duke Blue Devils 73-72 in the East Regional final.
Viral Moment Draws Attention
In the closing seconds of the game, UConn coach Dan Hurley was shown on broadcast cameras making contact with Ayers, appearing to press his forehead against the official following a go-ahead 3-pointer by freshman Braylon Mullins.
The shot, a 35-footer with 0.4 seconds remaining, completed one of the largest comebacks in NCAA tournament history and secured UConn’s eighth Final Four appearance — and third in four years under Hurley.
No technical foul was assessed on the play, and the Huskies held on after Duke’s final inbounds attempt.
Hurley Addresses Viral Clip
Hurley later addressed the moment, saying it was misinterpreted and not intended to be confrontational.
“At that point in the game, we had it won,” Hurley said on The Triple Option podcast. “He’s such an easy guy to work with during the game that I thought he was coming over to chest bump me to celebrate the shot.”
Hurley added that the interaction came in the immediate aftermath of the shot, with Ayers approaching to communicate time remaining on the clock.
“I was still so hyped from the shot going in,” Hurley said, adding that there was no intent to intimidate or disrespect the official.
Referee Downplays Interaction
According to ESPN’s Seth Greenberg, who said he spoke with Ayers after the game, the referee did not view the exchange as significant.
“I talked to Roger today. He said, ‘What are you talking about?’” Greenberg said on SportsCenter. “He literally didn’t know what I was talking about.”
Greenberg added that Ayers described the moment as routine amid the celebration.
“He said, ‘Nothing happened. The ball went in. I was running back. They were celebrating. Hurley leaned in, said something to me. I said something to him. It was absolutely nothing.’”
Hurley Has History With Officials
Hurley, known for his intensity on the sideline, has had prior run-ins with officials.
Earlier this month, he was ejected from a regular-season game against Marquette after making contact with referee John Gaffney in the closing seconds.
Hurley has maintained that the Elite Eight interaction with Ayers was different in nature and not part of a dispute.
No Explanation From NCAA
The NCAA did not indicate whether Ayers’ absence from the Final Four officiating pool was related to the incident.
Officials are selected for Final Four assignments based on performance evaluations throughout the tournament, among other factors, though specific criteria are not publicly detailed.
Ayers’ omission drew attention, given both his experience and his involvement in one of the tournament’s most discussed moments.
Final Four Matchups Set
UConn advanced to the Final Four and is scheduled to face the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday in Indianapolis.
The second national semifinal will feature the Michigan Wolverines and the Arizona Wildcats.
As the tournament shifts to its final stage, the focus now turns from the Elite Eight’s closing moments to the games that will determine this year’s national championship matchup.
NCAA Makes Decision After Dan Hurley’s Referee Moment — And It’s Raising Questions