The Creighton Bluejays and the San Diego State Aztecs played a hard-fought, back-and-forth basketball game during their Elite Eight contest on Sunday afternoon with the Aztecs punching their ticket to the Final Four. Despite the great game, some controversial referee decisions down the stretch led to plenty of conversation after the game. But Creighton coach Greg McDermott refused to participate in it.
During his postgame press conference, Greg McDermott was asked about a controversial foul call that gave San Diego State a chance to win the game at the free-throw line, but he chose not to criticize the officials – while also acknowledging that was never given an explanation for the controversial call.
“Two teams played their tails off and officiating is part of the game,” McDermott said according to college sports insider Pete Thamel of ESPN. “We’re not going to go there. We lost the game because we didn’t do enough and San Diego State did.”
Greg McDermott on the call on Nembhard: "Two teams played their tails off and officiating is part of the game. We’re not going to go there. We lost the game because we didn’t do enough and San Diego State did." He added he wasn't given an explanation at the end of the game.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 26, 2023
It’s quite a classy approach for McDermott to take when he easily could have criticized the call in his press conference. Instead, he was congratulatory of San Diego State and discussed his team’s performance with pride. It’s clear that he chose to take the high road.
