Did Maryland’s Derik Queen commit a traveling violation on his buzzer-beating basket against Colorado State?
Queen hit a bank shot to give the No. 4 Terrapins a 72-71 win over the No. 12 Rams in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday night. But he took three steps after picking up his dribble before releasing the shot. The first buzzer-beater of the 2025 men’s NCAA tournament also featured the first significant officiating controversy.
The traveling might not have been obvious to everyone in real time — and a reason why it wasn’t called on the floor. But it’s clear in slow motion that Queen took three steps following his last dribble. Take a look.
Here’s the slow-motion replay from a different angle.
There were differing opinions of the play by various TV commentators, but former NCAA referee and CBS analyst Gene Steratore said it was a correct no-call.
His explanation: “By rule, the dribble doesn’t end until there’s firm possession with one hand locked or, more times than not, with two hands. So we’ve got to look to see when the dribble ends. Derik Queen makes the turn around the loop. At that point when he brings it back up, we don’t know if that’s fully possessed. If he bobbles that at that point, he could continue to bobble that basketball all the way to the hoop without a travel.”
If you’re looking for the official NCAA definition of traveling, it’s a bit complicated. But players do not get a “gather step” in college like they do in the NBA as they pick up their dribble. Queen picks up his dribble behind the free-throw line as he takes a step with his right foot. He then takes a step with his left foot and another step with his right — a third step — before releasing the shot outside the low block on the left side of the lane.
In the interest of checking in and making sure with those who know best, I just spoke to a veteran official and they said without wiggle room for interpretation: Derik Queen absolutely traveled on this shot.
Maryland advances, nonetheless. https://t.co/EZkR2nxsYu
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 24, 2025
Had the travel been called, Colorado State would have won the game 71-70 barring a miracle comeback from the Terrapins after the Rams got possession.
It’s a rough way for Colorado State to lose, regardless of whether Queen’s travel should have been called. And it’s worth pointing out that every game includes calls that should have gone a different way at various points. That’s simply part of sports. If you’re a sports fan who believes officials should be lenient in pivotal moments, you got your wish on Sunday night. Officials let Queen play, and he delivered a clutch moment.
The Terrapins will play No. 1 Florida in the Sweet 16 as they advance past the second round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016.
