“Even the defender respect the dunk refs soft ash”: College hoops fans react as Ace Bailey gets technical foul after ridiculous poster dunk 

College hoops fans witnessed a jaw-dropping moment on Monday when Rutgers guard Ace Bailey delivered an electrifying poster dunk against Penn State. However, the highlight-worthy play took a controversial turn as the referee gave him a technical foul, sparking heated reactions across social media.

The Instagram clip showed Bailey receiving the ball in the corner before taking off and soaring through the air, throwing down a ferocious dunk that left the Penn State defender helpless.

The defender’s expression became a point of discussion and fans humorously pointed it out.

“Even the defender respect the dunk refs soft ash 😂,” a fan commented.

A fan comments on the Instagram post about Ace Bailey (Source: Instagram/overtime)

“That was PERSONAL!,” another fan said.

A fan comments on the Instagram post about Ace Bailey (Source: Instagram/overtime)

The online reactions were swift and varied. Some praised the raw power and artistry of Bailey’s dunk while others took a critical stance toward the referees, accusing them of being too quick to penalize him for his post-dunk celebration.

"Tech for what ? Being too happy lmao this is sad," one fan wrote.

"Refs just hating," a fan commented.

A fan comments on the Instagram post about Ace Bailey (Source: Instagram/overtime)

Adding fuel to the debate, some fans focused on Bailey’s physicality during the play, sparking a back-and-forth about the legality of the move and whether it added to the drama of the dunk.

Ace Bailey earns second Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor

Rutgers standout Ace Bailey was named the Big Ten Conference freshman of the week for the second time this season, solidifying his status as one of the conference's most exciting young talents. Bailey first claimed the honor in early January after an electrifying performance on Jan. 2 at Indiana, where he scored a career-high 39 points.

His latest recognition makes him the fifth Scarlet Knight to earn the award this season, following three wins by fellow freshman Dylan Harper. Bailey joins an elite group of Rutgers players, including Ron Harper Jr., Geo Baker and Corey Sanders, who have won the accolade.

The Scarlet Knights had a stellar week, securing two crucial victories. They defeated UCLA 75-68 at Jersey Mike's Arena on Jan. 13 and followed it up with a road win against Nebraska on Thursday. Bailey was instrumental in both games, recording two double-doubles.

In the victory over UCLA, Bailey led the charge with 20 points and 10 rebounds, marking his fifth double-double of the season. It was also his seventh game with 20 or more points and his fifth with at least 10 rebounds.

The freshman phenom demonstrated his all-around impact, becoming just the third Division I player this season to post a game with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal.

Bailey had another dominant performance against Nebraska, recording 24 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and one steal. This historic stat line helped Rutgers hand Nebraska its first home loss at Pinnacle Bank Arena in 20 games.

With his outstanding performances, Bailey has firmly established himself as a key player for the Scarlet Knights and a rising star in college basketball. His contributions continue to elevate Rutgers' success and fuel excitement for the team's future.