When Bruce Pearl’s Auburn Tigers took the floor against Todd Golden’s Florida Gators in the Final Four, the stage was set for a gritty, high-stakes SEC showdown. Two powerhouse programs, one ticket to the national championship, and a game that was expected to be decided by hustle, execution, and maybe a little magic. But as the game began, another storyline began to simmer—one that didn’t involve players or plays, but whistles and calls. And as expected, fans weren’t taking it!
At the center of that brewing controversy? Veteran referee Roger Ayers, a name that—fairly or not—has become synonymous with frustration for many college hoops fans.
For anyone who’s watched March Madness long enough, Roger Ayers is not a new character. In fact, for some fan bases, he’s practically a villain. Just ask UCLA fans who still remember screaming at their TVs during Pac-12 games. Or Samford fans who watched their Cinderella dream crash down during that heartbreaker against Kansas, courtesy of a now-infamous call many believe gifted the Jayhawks the win.
So, when Auburn fans saw his name on the officiating crew list, the nerves kicked in early. And as the game unfolded, so did the tension. There were 15 lead changes, the energy was electric, and Auburn matched Florida blow for blow—at least in the first half.
NCAA, College League, USA Basketball: NCAA Tournament South Regional-Michigan State at Auburn Mar 30, 2025 Atlanta, GA, USA Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl during the first half in the South Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament against the Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Arena. Atlanta State Farm Arena GA USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xDalexZaninex 20250330_jhp_sz2_0229
But as the second half ticked on, something shifted. Auburn began to lose rhythm. Players like K.D. Johnson, Denver Jones, and Tre Donaldson found themselves racking up fouls, and the Tigers’ offense began to sputter. The scoreboard didn’t just reflect Florida’s adjustments—it also started to reflect a growing frustration.
To be clear, the numbers don’t scream “conspiracy.” Florida had players in foul trouble, too. And a key moment—a flagged Flagrant 1 against Florida’s Rueben Chinyelu for elbowing Denver Jones—actually favored Auburn, giving them free throws and possession.
And as usual, fans did take notice.
They didn’t hesitate to dive into the comment section to deliver their unique takes. “REFS COMING TO SAVE THE DAY FOR AUBURN. S–t is f—ing disgusting.” For fans, it wasn’t about one call. It was about how the calls were coming—soft whistles, momentum-breaking fouls, and questionable no-calls that seemed to consistently benefit the Gators just enough to swing the flow of the game.
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