Mark Pope did not want to get fined. He also knew that if he said anything about officiating from the podium following Kentucky’s agonizing loss at Auburn, he probably would be.
With just seconds remaining in Saturday’s game, Kentucky’s Collin Chandler was called for a push off, which sent an Auburn defender to the floor as the Wildcats attempted to inbound the ball. Seeing as Kentucky was up 1, a successful inbounds would have given the Wildcats a pretty good chance at walking out of Neville Arena with a win.
So, was it really a push-off? Probably. Still, context is important. Auburn defender Kevin Overton was definitely playing it up for the foul and appeared to even hold Chandler, but the extension on the push-off is there, too. The brutal part, and the bit some Kentucky fans are ticked about, is the timing. A call that ultimately helped decide the game is often allowed to fly in the final seconds of a close game like that. Not this time.
You be the judge:
Unbelievable.Collin Chandler does push off, but is held prior to the inbounds pass. Neither called 95%+ of the time in the final seconds.Officials inserting themselves, affecting the outcome. pic.twitter.com/1vrHEA4VIo
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) February 22, 2026Back to Pope. When asked about the above foul postgame, he was angry but reluctantly reserved. “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.
Pope also mentioned that Kentucky basketball doesn’t make excuses, though this comment was a little tongue-in-cheek given he ended it with “…Regardless of how disgraceful things are, we don’t give away our power… Regardless of how embarrassing, personal, awful, unacceptable…”
Pope ended his presser a short time later without directly accosting officiating. As he walked down the hall out of the media room though, he very loudly (and very obviously within earshot of reporters) spoke to Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart. He could be heard saying, ” Mitch, if those MFers try to fine me, screw’ em. I did not say a word about how they cheated us.”
Mark Pope as he left the postgame podium:"Mitch, if those MFers try to fine me, screw 'em. I did not say a WORD about how they cheated us" (: @mikegittens) pic.twitter.com/pMKHpo39DO
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 22, 2026Tell us how you really feel, coach.
Prediction Markets March Madness Sweet 16 Qualifiers Learn more about Prediction Markets Kalshi Duke 91% Houston 89% Arizona 84% Michigan 84% UConn 77% Florida 77% Iowa St. 69% Tennessee 68% Alabama 63% Kansas 61% PredictMark Pope indirectly, yet intentionally slams officiating while exiting podium: ‘They cheated us’ Saturday Down South.
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