Is a brief staredown worthy of a technical foul? Tony Padilla — who was a referee for Thursday night’s Sweet 16 matchup between BYU and Alabama — says yes. Pretty much everyone else watching the game, including announcers Brian Anderson and Jim Jackson, begged to differ.
The play in question came early in the second half. BYU’s Trevin Knell made a three-pointer, cutting the Alabama lead to eight points. But seconds after the three, Padilla blew his whistle and assessed a technical foul to Knell. As Mark Sears was shooting the technical foul shots for the Crimson Tide, Anderson tried to explain what happened.
“Tony Padilla’s kind of showing us that he’s talking on his way down,” Anderson said. “I mean, it’s a big shot for BYU, Jim.”
A replay did confirm that Knell did turn to Alabama’s Labaron Philon and appeared to say something to him. But this all happened as Knell was running down the court, never stopping or even really slowing down.
“He looked at — that’s why. ‘Cause he turned and looked. I don’t know.”
“Yeah, I’m kinda old school,” Jackson added. “It wasn’t a gesture. He said something. This is gonna be intense. The Alabama player didn’t react in a negative way. So, to me, a tech at that particular time, was unwarranted.”
BYU gets a technical foul for looking at an Alabama player. 🏀🦓👮♂️🎙️#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/UJ2bqADPOP
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 28, 2025
A lot of people watching the game agreed with Jackson’s take.
Tony Padilla is a clown 🤡
Same dude who was in the middle of last week’s Arkansas-St John’s foul fest, just called the weakest tech I’ve ever seen.
This guy should not be calling high level college basketball games
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) March 28, 2025
This officiating crew in Newark is weak! Way too
Many quick whistles and this needless taunting call for woofing with opponents is part of the game. These guys feel they have to call everything, and this is a damned entertaining matchup. Stay out of the way and let them play!🤦♂️👍— Tim Brando (@TimBrando) March 28, 2025
Tony Padilla tying to make the game about him. Another case of officials should have to answer questions after a game.
— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) March 28, 2025
Good ol Tony Padilla inserting himself into the game. https://t.co/C1mEto2AZp
— Adam Kadavy (@adamk63) March 28, 2025
That is so weak even Greg Sankey (who has zero shame) would blush. https://t.co/8B89fYtQ1C
— Mark Blankenbaker (@UofLSheriff50) March 28, 2025
Tony Padilla after Trevin Knell hits a 3: pic.twitter.com/Dsa9xnhzCf
— Cody Nagel (@CodyNagel247) March 28, 2025
Tony Padilla has been awful all season. Has no business being in this game. https://t.co/U87bGs03sl
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) March 28, 2025
I bet this zebra is still mad for getting picked last in dodge ball. That’s a play on… you know how I know? Because the Bama player didn’t react… at all. He should probably go to the monitor to see how small he looks… pitiful. https://t.co/Dchc0X0ptn
— Josh Perkey (@joshperkey) March 28, 2025
Alabama put the game away later in the second half, posting a decisive 113-88 win over BYU.
