Amid the men’s NCAA Tournament, a curious conspiracy theory has begun to circulate, suggesting an unusual element lurking within the basketballs used during the games.
Despite the tournament largely following predicted outcomes, with several high-seeded teams advancing, one TikTok account has ignited speculation regarding the air pressure within the tournament basketballs.
Describing himself as a “professional shooting coach,” Bobby Perez has taken to TikTok to present his theory dubbed “March Madness Inflategate,” a playful nod to the infamous “Deflategate” saga involving the New England Patriots.
Perez contends that certain tournament venues may be using basketballs excessively pumped with air, leading to adverse effects on gameplay. He asserts that the over-inflated balls are exacerbating dribbling difficulties and contributing to missed shots, particularly shots that tend to overshoot.
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In a particularly notable example, Perez links the over-inflated balls to Marquette’s dismal shooting performance, where they recorded a historically poor shooting night with only 4-of-31 three-pointers made.
While acknowledging that both teams use the same ball, Perez questions whether the NCAA should intervene and adjust the air pressure to address the issue.
