Georgia Tech - Michigan State 1990 Basketball

[@JohnAJay]

I've been watching this replay for 20 years on my VCR, and Anderson still has not beat the buzzer with his shot!

[@ATL45]

Current GT student here. That final shot was taken after the end of the game, no matter whether the end is marked by 00 or the horn. Bad call by the refs.

[@georgepahno3111]

Tenths of seconds would have made a big difference here.

[@JoeKnows44]

@@georgepahno3111 Not needed the shot was a full second late.

[@GTME83]

Before the red lights were in use around the backboards, the rules stated that periods ended at the sounding of the horn, not "00" displayed on the scoreboard.

[@blkprl34]

that's right!

[@shanejones8884]

Ball was in Anderson’s hand at horn. He was later than your prom date’s period.

[@JoeKnows44]

And still the shot is obviously late. What's your point?

[@bull864]

@HermFontenot 1990 was the GREATEST tourney of all-time. Still waiting for a better one.

[@paulcho1692]

Hard to believe that Smith missed that free throw. That was fun to watch Sparty that year but too bad it had to end this way.

[@BHoz77]

This game made me sick to my stomach as a Spartan fan. Still does, even though our success the last 10 years or so has lessened the pain somewhat, it would have been nice to have seen MSU make it to the Final Four that year... although there's no way we would have beaten that year's UNLV squad.

[@SFFOOL76]

He was absolutely a thrill to watch at Georgia Tech. I feel lucky that I got to see him play on t.v.

[@Aldon3]

i remember watching this

[@davissmith6617]

I love how he shot it after the buzzer

[@willlibuster]

When they played it over and over on TV that year, looked as though the horn blew _before_ the shot.

[@selfexplanitory]

K.A. - Great PG, Great Game.....

[@DanielSong39]

That shot was late, I was pretty sure it was late in real time the first time I watched the clip

[@CoreyT127]

You can pause the video with the clock at 00 and he still has the ball. Refs blew that call worrying about if it was a 3 or 2 instead!

[@georgepahno3111]

Here is how you can review the shot: Pause the video at 4:36. Turn the volume all the way down. Under "Playback Settings", set the speed to 0.25. Restart the video, then pause it again at 4:38. You will notice that the ball is still in Kenny Anderson's hands when the clock is at 00. Therefore, the shot should not have counted, meaning the final score should have been Michigan State 75, Georgia Tech 73.

[@C.P.Brown_]

I still remember this game. I was a BIG TIME Steve Smith fan. & the refs probably along with the people upstairs very noticeable str8 screwed Smitty & the Spartans out of this game. Yes, if, shoulda, woulda, coulda don't matter if Smith missed the free throw or not, the ball was clearly still in Anderson's hands before time expired. They had 2 ways to see that 1 way of hearing it. Clock at 00:00, & red light were ways of seeing it & hearing the sound of the horn was the sense of hearing it & seeing the ball still in his hands. So NO to the announcer that claim the refs made the right call on Anderson's shot being a 2 instead of a 3. They dropped the ball before that call.

[@SFFOOL76]

I think the all time ncaa tournament screwing was when there was a clock malfunction in 1986 in a sweet 16 matchup between michigan state/kansas. touche'

[@JSTAT1006]

the horn sounded even before the clock hit zero though

[@wizeman5974]

@cherokeejoshua Yes. Not only is this shot after "00", which GTME83 says was not official until the red lights were used on the backboard, but this shot is after the buzzer as well. I agree, the Spartans got screwed. But karma reconciled that at least Georgia Tech did not go on and win the title that season. No one was going to stop UNLV that year. They were the beasts of college basketball in 1990.

[@mh1977mh]

I don't even care it was late...that was Chibbs coming out party!

[@mikedurden4256]

He stepped IN BOUNDS....

[@youtuber3328]

please tell me did steve smith have any deep playoff run with michigan state

[@jeffnfoxylady1]

i got this game on dvd

[@DanStrayer]

I remember that they analysed this in the studio show (hosted by Jim Nantz, that's how long ago it was) and effectively determined the shot should not have counted. Would've been all Big 10 in the regional final: Sparty v Gophers. Alas.

[@sctvhound]

Even Greg Gumbel was surprised that it counted.

[@Tyrone181]

The on-screen digital clock isn't "official time.'' The Superdome's clock (at that time) wasn't equipped to count down in tenths of a second. At 3:40, the buzzer sounds a hair before it ticks to :00. The Indiana-Michigan game in 1989 (watch?v=kaJTuXlBXlk&hd=1) ended the exact same way, which led to the "tenths-of-a-second" rule.

[@blkprl34]

it wasn't gt & refs vs michigan st. the officials were so intent on whether or not it was a 2 or 3 they missed the shot coming a hair late. if i'm not mistaken, this game was one of the basis for game clocks showing tenths of seconds....still a GREAT game by both teams. regardless the outcome, neither team should have lost.

[@caar3216]

That WAS the Superdome’s clock. That’s what it looked like back then. That wasn’t just some graphic cbs made up. That was an actual shot of the stadium clock.

[@TheOusooner56]

People...pull it up at the 3:40 point!!! Please click onto the 3:40 point.....the buzzer sounds and its close, but still has the ball in his hand and then releases....should NOT have counted!!!

[@jasoncompau2686]

never got that off in time!

[@mikedecarlo9057]

Not even close!!

[@GTD1222]

Since I WAS AT the game and sitting in the lower level near the 3-point line, I can fill y'all in on what happened. The question at the time was whether it was a 3-pointer or a 2 at the buzzer--NOT if the clock ran out. It was ONLY those WATCHING on TV who questioned the time--that wasn't done at the Superdome when the shot went in. Also, I question the clock on the screen being synched with the clocks at the dome. The scoreboards there had fat yellow numbers, not thin numbers like TV showed.

[@caar3216]

At least one of the clocks in the super dome had those numbers. Check out sporting events up until 1992 at the Superdome. It always has that style of numbers. That’s not some graphic cbs made up.

[@bigkatspoker]

Damn the official pushed jud outta the way.

[@plembonicities6263]

I was pulling hard for GT in this one, but, to this day, I don't think he got that shot off before the buzzer.

[@georgepahno3111]

The Superdome was the only 1990 regional site in which the game clock did not count down in tenths of seconds in the final minute. At the other sites (Oakland Coliseum Arena, Meadowlands Arena, and Reunion Arena), the game clock did show tenths of seconds in the final minute.

[@mmsoulmm]

Open court sent me here

[@MrHankbaby]

Classic! Detroit vs. New York! Kenny vs. Smitty! It was an equal match. Both doing their thing. Honestly, it was a bad call. If Steve had hit the 1 and 1, then game over. He left it in the refs hand and they blew it. But give props to Kenny for scoring the last six points in regulation. He was tremendous! State still had OT to prove they were the better team. Guess they weren't!

[@wytelester-green8891]

That was one long azz second

[@chrisuncleahmad666]

The Spartans were up by four and could not seal the deal. All they had to do was make one free throw and it would have been enough.

[@DNSKansas]

So it's okay the officials fucked up?

[@windowsvistasuxalot]

What a comeback! Anderson was a true stud!

[@spartyontop]

Hit your free throws Steve Smith

[@RuddFvcker8374]

All Smitty had to do was just make those free throws -- that's all....

[@idster7]

where's the rest of this game?

[@NateTheGr8ness]

Michigan State got robbed that year. That should've NEVER counted. THIS would lay the groundwork for future stricter instant replay rules.

[@JohnSmith-op1tc]

All Steve Smith had to do was hit the first, if not the pair, at :05 to go. I'm an alum of MSU, starting to present a Jud Heathcote hairstyle as seen here and what you see is no one for State dropping their duff and forcing Anderson to do very much in terms of his rapid advance of the basketball. A sick-making loss, to be sure.

[@thescatman5029]

Shoul've had two chasers pick Kenny up fullcourt in the first possession! Like that would've made a difference with Kenny....!

[@Tpanther775]

I agree that he hit the shot after the horn sounded but think about it. If Steve Smith hit his free throws it never would have happened and if Michigan State had won and ended up beating Minnesota they would have suffered the same fate as anyone in the Final Four. Getting beat by UNLV.

[@SFFOOL76]

At 1:40 , it is funny seeing a younger Tom Izzo.

[@mikedurden4256]

What nobody comments about is the Spartan player stepped IN BOUNDS after Kenny scored there at the end of regulation.

[@curtissharpe5775]

GO JACKETS!!!!

[@1therevoltz]

he didnt get that off

[@urbanflavorz]

What happened in overtime?

[@tbone24100]

+urbanflavorz Georgia Tech won!!

[@DNSKansas]

+tbone24100 You mean Georgia Tech and the refs won. Any team can win playing 8-on-5.

[@blown22]

LOL. Ball was in his hand at both :00 and when the horn began. Refs screwed the pooch on this one.

[@TheOusooner56]

Agreed 100% .... Freeze-framed this a bunch..and although its damn close, the buzzer sounds as Anderson still has the ball in his hands, and the clock clearly at :00.... I felt this way back then, and clearly still feel this way now! Mich. St. got screwed on this one....the 3:40 point on this video proves it!..

[@tchiasson10]

Kenny Anderson didn't beat the clock.... He clearly stil had the ball when the clock was 00.

[@prose00]

this basket should never have counted.

[@kevtruth]

Spartans got screwed

[@occlude32]

one of the worst no-calls ever - GT was pretty lucky there, clearly the shot was late

[@blueheatbaby]

I was at this game. Everyone thought Kenny Anderson had hit the 3 and won the game.

[@sappyjohnson]

Well, he didnt

[@SFFOOL76]

I know you are but what am I. Touche' relax buddy boy. I know it was used in a improper manner.

[@mikekillagreen9432]

Steve Sanchez

[@820stovall]

You are wrong. But you would have to understand the rules to know you are wrong.

[@DaCaptain924]

Freeze it @ 4:39. MSU should've won.

[@davissmith6617]

you shouldn't be talking about hit your free throws because you probably wouldnt make it if u were in that pos

[@mikekillagreen9432]

All that celebrating. Imagine if they lost

[@knjohnsonel]

@cherokeejoshua Kenny Killed Steve Smith. WHat!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@80sGiraffe]

One of the worst calls in tournament history. Steve Smith and these Spartans deserved to go to the Final Four and got screwed. Oh well, Michigan State has been to six final fours since this time and won a National Championship. The Spartans have two national championships, and georgia tech, a big goose egg.