The Southeastern Conference imposed a $25,000 penalty on Kentucky's head basketball coach Mark Pope following his controversial remarks about game officials after a narrow loss to Auburn. Pope made pointed comments questioning the officiating during his post-game press conference, including profanity-laced statements directed at potential league discipline.
The Southeastern Conference handed down a $25,000 financial penalty to Kentucky basketball head coach Mark Pope on Tuesday after his controversial remarks about game officials following his team’s narrow 75-74 defeat to Auburn last weekend.
Auburn secured their victory when Elyjah Freeman scored on a last-second tip-in with just 1.1 seconds left on the clock. The decisive basket occurred after officials called an offensive foul against Kentucky’s Collin Chandler on the opposite end of the floor.
During his media session after the game, Pope made carefully worded but pointed statements about the officiating crew’s performance.
“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. “I’m not allowed to comment on the referees. I won’t comment on the referees. It’s unfortunate. It didn’t cost us the game.”
However, Pope’s most controversial statement came as he wrapped up his press conference, speaking directly to Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart:
“Mitch, if those mother F’ers try to fine me, screw ’em because I did not say a word about how they cheated us.”
Conference officials determined that Pope’s behavior violated SEC bylaw 10.5.3 concerning sportsmanship standards and the commissioner’s rules about public criticism of game officials, which “prohibit coaches, student-athletes and institutional staff from publicly criticizing officials or disclosing officiating-related communications.”
Earlier in his post-game remarks, Pope delivered another pointed statement without directly naming officials:
“We refuse to give control to people that are outside of our program. Refuse,” Pope said after the loss. “Regardless of how personal it might get or how bad it might get, we refuse to give control to fans, to give control to anybody else associated with this game. Regardless of how blatantly people are trying to make this not happen, we refuse to give them our power. … We don’t make excuses. We don’t do that. Regardless of what is happening. Regardless of how disgraceful things are, we don’t give away our power. Regardless of how embarrassing, personal, awful, unacceptable things are, we refuse to give away our power.”
The Wildcats, now 17-10 overall and 8-6 in conference play, are working to end a three-game losing skid when they travel to face South Carolina (12-15, 3-11) on Tuesday night in Columbia.