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By Cole Sullivan
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The Kentucky Wildcats are set to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday night, desperate for a win as they currently sit at 17-10 overall and are riding a three-game losing streak.
Their latest loss came at the hands of the Auburn Tigers, who beat them 75-74 in a game that ended controversially. With 14 seconds remaining and Kentucky leading 74-73, Collin Chandler was called for an offensive foul after pushing off on Auburn’s Kevin Overton. The Tigers went on to make the game-winning shot.
Following the game, a distraught Mark Pope criticized the officiating in his postgame press conference, saying the refereeing felt “super personal.”
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“Well, we’re not allowed to talk about the referees. But you guys saw it, and I think sometimes it’s just super personal. So, I’m not allowed to comment on the referees, and I won’t comment on the referees,” Pope said. “It’s unfortunate. It didn’t cost us the game because we’re in control, but we’ll find ways to go win.”
Concluding his press conference with a pointed message to Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart, Pope went a step further — and the microphones caught it.
“Mitch, if those [expletive] try to fine me, they can’t,” he said. “I didn’t say a word about how they cheated us.”
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Those comments led the SEC to announce Tuesday that Pope was fined $25,000 for violating SEC Bylaw 10.5.3, which governs sportsmanship.
“University of Kentucky men's basketball coach Mark Pope has been issued a public reprimand and fined $25,000 by the Southeastern Conference for post-game conduct and comments related to officiating following the Wildcats' game at Auburn University on February 21," SEC's statement read.
“The comments violated SEC Bylaw 10.5.3 (Sportsmanship) and the SEC Commissioner's Regulation regarding Public Criticism of Officials, which prohibit coaches, student-athletes and institutional staff from publicly criticizing officials or disclosing officiating-related communications”
Pope is in his second season in Lexington and currently has Kentucky projected as an eight seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament, according to ESPN bracket expert Joe Lunardi, who dropped them two spots following the loss to Auburn.
That makes the stretch beginning Tuesday against South Carolina, and the games over the next week, pivotal for their positioning in March — if they earn a bid.
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