Will Wade, John Calipari weigh in on controversial final play of LSU's win at Kentucky
The No. 19 LSU Tigers went on the road to No. 5 Kentucky on Tuesday night and scored a big upset over the Wildcats.
However, the ending wasn’t without some controversy, as a put-back by Kavell Bigby-Williams drew some scorn from coach John Calipari, the Wildcats and Big Blue Nation.
As you can see below, Bigby-Williams appeared to touch the ball while it was still in the cylinder, but that’s a call that’s not reviewable:
COUNT IT!
No. 19 LSU stuns No. 5 Kentucky … AT THE BUZZER. #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/M8LHpexYxV
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 13, 2019
After the game, LSU coach Will Wade said he hadn’t seen the play, but understands that the rule benefitted the Tigers:
Wade asked about controversial final bucket. Says he hasn’t seen it yet, but it’s his understanding of the rule that only time is reviewable, not whether the ball is still in the cylinder.
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) February 13, 2019
Coach Cal was less diplomatic, comparing it to a call that cost the Wildcats a trip to the national title game a few years ago:
Cal on basket interference not being reviewable: Says it's like when UK lost to Wisconsin in the Final Four when a clear shot-clock violation was not reviewable, then they changed the rule. "We're like Wilt Chamberlain. We change rules." https://t.co/LaFSW8d0vv
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) February 13, 2019
Calipari: "Why would that not be reviewable?" Compared it to when Wisconsin scored on a shot-clock violation in the 2015 Final Four. That rule has since been changed.
— Derek Terry (@DerekSTerry) February 13, 2019
Whatever the case, the Tigers leave Lexington with a win, and have now taken over second place in the SEC standings.
Looks it should’ve been called, but missed calls can’t be reviewed. Just ask Saints fans how that feels. Glad LSU got the win. They deserved it after gutting it out in one of the hardest places to win.
Like the Saints, the Wildcats had plenty of opportunity to win and didn’t. Bad calls happen.
It was a close call. The games announcers were convinced it was the right call, but I understand it is surely disputable. Big win for LSU.
Nice win for LSU. But like in baseball, no single game matters. Kentucky will be in March madness…that’s all that counts.
if Kentucky would have been winning by 20 points this would not have been an issue… you have to take your lumps… Congrats LSU…
well that explains a lot. It was just a blown call. I said last night I thought it was still clearly in the cylinder (like about 80%) but I must not have understood the rule. If its not reviewable then its just a bad call. Its tough to have one in that part of the game that makes such an impact but they do happen and if you don’t want it to affect the game then don’t let it get to that point. LSU played great. Makes our game vs ky Saturday that much more difficult I would guess. lets hope we take care of our own business tonight.
LSU is a very good team. I hope they enjoy the W because it doesn’t happen often.
It definitely doesn’t happen often, but that win did LSU a lot more good than it did Kentucky harm. We needed something to make us credible. Kentucky already has that.
Speaking of credibility, lol, how’s the search going today?
See ya later.