Mark Pope indirectly, yet intentionally slams officiating while exiting podium: ‘They cheated us’
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Mark Pope did not want to get fined. He also knew that if he said anything about officiating from the podium following Kentucky’s agonizing loss at Auburn, he probably would be.
With just seconds remaining in Saturday’s game, Kentucky’s Collin Chandler was called for a push off, which sent an Auburn defender to the floor as the Wildcats attempted to inbound the ball. Seeing as Kentucky was up 1, a successful inbounds would have given the Wildcats a pretty good chance at walking out of Neville Arena with a win.
Instead, the Tigers were able to win it with an Elyjah Freeman tip-in just before time expired. Auburn 75, Kentucky 74. Ballgame.
So, was it really a push-off after all? It sure looked like it. Auburn defender Kevin Overton was definitely playing it up for the foul and appeared to even hold Chandler before the call, but the extension by Chandler is there, too. The brutal part, and the bit some Kentucky fans are ticked about, is the timing of it all. A call that ultimately helped decide the game is often allowed to fly in the final seconds. Not this time.
You be the judge:
Back to Pope. When asked about the above foul postgame, he was obviously angry but reluctantly reserved. “We’re not allowed to talk about the referees, but you guys saw it, and I think sometimes it’s just super personal,” Pope said.
Pope also mentioned that Kentucky basketball doesn’t make excuses, though this comment was a little tongue-in-cheek given he ended it with “…Regardless of how disgraceful things are, we don’t give away our power… Regardless of how embarrassing, personal, awful, unacceptable…”
Pope ended his presser a short time later without directly accosting officiating. As he walked down the hall out of the media room though, he very loudly (and very obviously within earshot of reporters) spoke to Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart. He could be heard saying, ” Mitch, if those MFers try to fine me, screw’ em. I did not say a word about how they cheated us.”
Tell us how you really feel, coach.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
