SEC refs can break the best of us.
Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope didn’t hide his frustration during the Wildcats’ 99-70 loss to Alabama in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. As the game slipped further out of reach, Pope erupted after a controversial call that took away a potential momentum-shifting basket.
The incident occurred at the 9:40 mark in the first half when Kentucky was trailing 23-19. Amari Williams drove to the basket and finished through contact, seemingly earning an and-1 opportunity that could have cut Alabama’s lead to just one point if Williams made the free throw.
However, the officials ruled that the foul occurred on the floor, negating the basket. Due to college basketball’s lack of a continuation rule, the points did not count, and Kentucky was instead awarded possession on the baseline.
As the call was made, cameras caught Pope visibly upset on the sidelines, clearly shouting, “That’s bull—-!”
The moment quickly made waves on social media, as fans debated both the call itself and Pope’s fiery reaction.
The missed opportunity proved costly, as Alabama continued to dominate the game from that point forward. The Crimson Tide shot an impressive 50.7% from the field and knocked down 11 3-pointers, while Kentucky struggled to find any rhythm without key players like Lamont Butler, who missed the game with a shoulder injury.
Otega Oweh was also temporarily sidelined due to a bleeding lip, and Andrew Carr battled through foul trouble and his lingering back injury.
Despite the loss, Pope’s passion and willingness to fight for his team were evident. The Wildcats will now look to regroup as they await their NCAA Tournament fate, hoping to put this disappointing performance behind them.
“That’s bullshit!” – Mark Pope is furious. pic.twitter.com/CROFj3x4mr
— Rare Rookies #BBN (@rarerookies) March 15, 2025
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