In a nail-biter of a game, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope didn't hold back his frustration following the Wildcats' heart-wrenching 75-74 loss to Auburn on Saturday night. The Tigers, snapping a five-game losing streak, found a way to edge out Kentucky in the final seconds, leaving fans and players stunned.
The game was marked by a flurry of fouls, with Kentucky being called for 19, but it was the one in the final moments that turned the tide. Auburn's Tahaad Pettiford sank two critical free throws, narrowing Kentucky's lead to a single point with just 14 seconds left. Then, as Kentucky attempted to inbound the ball, Collin Chandler was hit with a foul call, setting up Auburn's game-winning putback with just 1.2 seconds remaining.
Mark Pope, visibly upset, made his feelings known during the postgame press conference. While he refrained from directly criticizing the officiating, his words carried weight.
"I’m not allowed to comment on the referees, I won’t comment on the referees," Pope said. "We don’t make excuses.
Regardless of what is happening, regardless of how disgraceful things are, we don’t give away our power."
However, it was his off-air comments, picked up by hot microphones, that truly captured his frustration. Addressing Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart, Pope said, "Mitch, if those [expletive] try to fine me, screw ’em. I did not say a word about how they cheated us."
The foul on Chandler, which led to Auburn regaining possession with 15 seconds left, was a pivotal moment. While Chandler did push off, he was also held before the pass-a call that rarely gets made in the closing seconds of a game.
Kentucky had a promising start, leading 39-35 at halftime. However, Auburn outscored them 40-35 in the second half, including the crucial final four points that sealed their victory.
The Wildcats are now on a three-game losing streak since their win over Tennessee on February 7. They've faced tough losses against Florida, Georgia, and now Auburn. Looking ahead, Kentucky will take on South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and Florida to close out their season.
For Auburn, this victory was a much-needed morale boost after consecutive losses to Tennessee, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Mississippi State. The Tigers are set to finish their season with games against Oklahoma, Ole Miss, LSU, and Alabama.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the Tennessee Volunteers celebrated a significant win over No. 19 Vanderbilt, showcasing a complete team effort and securing a 69-65 victory in Nashville.