This strange Minnesota missed dunk in the Big Ten tournament defied all logic and physics
This is as close to two points as you can get without getting two points.
During the men’s Big Ten tournament, Minnesota big man Pharrel Payne went to throw down an alley-oop dunk but somehow didn’t connect.
Payne was one of the conference leaders in dunks this season, per Bart Torvik, throwing down 37 and previously missing just one on the season. Somehow, however, luck was not on his side on this possession during this brutal loss against Michigan State.
Despite a seemingly perfect opportunity for Payne, the ball ricocheted off the rim and didn’t go through the net. The field goal would have given Minnesota a lead in the game but was instead called basket interference on the offense.
Basket interference on the offense?!
We've never seen this before
pic.twitter.com/ez0tnPPOfy
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 14, 2024
All of the announcers on the broadcast, as well as Payne, were flabbergasted about how this was even possible.
Seriously: Take a look at this GIF! None of it makes any sense at all.
— Jay Cuda (@JayCuda) March 14, 2024
The ball just got stuck and refused to go through the rim for a bucket. It was as close to going in without actually going in. But as confusing as it was and while there is no logical explanation, it happened.
This was real life, even though it seemed like the result of divine intervention or a Buffalo Wild Wings advertisement.