ESPN Announcers Ignored Most Embarrassing Moment Of College Basketball Season

01/18/2025 12:10 PM

During games that have become less than competitive, sports announcers will often talk about subjects that are related to the teams or players in the game to fill time. This allows the announcers to fill dead air as the teams shuffle to finish the game.

A women's basketball game on ESPN+ featured one of the more bizarre moments of the college basketball season, but two announcers calling the game were so wrapped up in their tangent that they completely ignored it.

During the MAAC game between Fairfield and Niagara on Thursday night, Fairfield held a 20-point lead late in the third quarter. With no signs of a comeback in sight, the two announcers - Ryan Maxwell and Howard Simon - went into their blowout material.

This time, it was a discussion about Fairfield's non-conference schedule, and whether it would be enough to help their earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Can you spot what Niagara WBB did wrong? (The announcers were out to lunch) pic.twitter.com/n6b5e35C10

— The Sickos CBB Committee (@SickosCBB) January 16, 2025

During their conversation, a Niagara player grabbed a defensive rebound after a missed Fairfield three-pointer, only to put the ball back into her own basket.

Players and coaches on the Fairfield bench reacted by putting their hands on their heads in disbelief, but the two announcers kept talking about the schedule.

As you may expect, fans couldn't believe that the play happened, or that the announcers ignored such a massive blunder.

"I know the MAAC is far from high major, but for a college athlete to do this is INSANE. Plus for the announcers to not even recognize it is even crazier," one fan said about the incident.

"It genuinely blows my mind that this happened at the D1 level. Cannot wait to see this in YouTube compilations for years," another fan said.

"I've seen defenders deflect a ball that happened to go in… I don't think I've ever seen a defender gain control and put the ball up like they had just gotten an offensive rebound before," "said one fan.

"Broadcast didn't even acknowledge it that's how I know this happens once a game," another fan said.

Fairfield ended up winning 96-49 on Wednesday night, so the gifted two points were relatively inconsequential, but it was still a strange moment and one of the most awkward college basketball games we're likely to see this season.

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