It happened to Texas Tech in the second round of the men’s tournament on Sunday. Trailing by 2, and looking for an upset of third-seeded Arkansas, Kyler Edwards of Texas Tech drove to the basket and missed a layup with 3 seconds left.
It happened to Stephen F. Austin in the first round of the women’s tournament on Sunday. Down 2 in overtime, Avery Brittingham missed a layup and then a tip shot with one second on the clock, ending a bid to defeat fifth-seeded Georgia Tech.
The word “layup” has moved beyond basketball to be used as a term for anything that’s simple.