Coach Calipari called out for disrespect of Kansas St. players after loss
As part of the NCAA’s argument that its players are amateurs, not professionals, the organization likes to insist that games are rooted in sportsmanship rather than the “it’s just business” mentality that dominates the pros.
That assertion was sorely tested when the Kentucky Wildcats lost to ninth-seeded Kansas State in the Sweet 16 on Thursday.
K-STATE WINS THE BATTLE OF THE WILDCATS!
(9) Kansas State takes down (5) Kentucky 61-58 and advances to its first #Elite8 since 2010! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/rtxInkBDQd
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2018
Kentucky players simply walked off the court, forgoing the usual pleasantries of shaking the other team’s hands — a tradition that starts in childhood but often seems to evaporate by the time athletes get to the pros.
“They didn’t shake our hands,” Kansas State junior guard Amaad Wainright said after the game, according to ESPN. “It’s sorry. … They know what they did.”
Wainright added that he wasn’t exactly sure why Kentucky team personnel immediately left following the game. If given the chance, though, he would have liked the chance to shake Kentucky coach John Calipari’s hand.
“On that situation, it’s all about respect,” Wainright said. “That’s what it should have been — all about respect.”
Calipari, however, took issue with Wainright’s argument, saying his team meant no disrespect.
“They were turned and celebrating, so I walked off,” Calipari stated. “There was no disrespect for anything. It’s just that they were celebrating, and I was happy for them.”
Kansas State players weren't happy that Kentucky skipped handshakes. pic.twitter.com/7iEqoRSZdU
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 23, 2018
Directly addressing the accusation of poor sportsmanship, he added, “My team’s not like that. There’s no disrespect in any way. They beat us. They deserved to win the game.”
Kansas State forward Levi Stockard III wasn’t buying it.
“That’s not the sportsmanship you like to see, but that’s them,” Stockard said. “They just walked off the court. I don’t know what it was. I don’t know.”
It’s been a bizarre run for Kansas State so far in the NCAA tournament. They have beaten a No. 8 seed (Creighton), a No. 16 seed (University of Maryland-Baltimore County), and a No. 5 seed (Kentucky). Now Kansas State has a No. 11 seed (Loyola-Chicago) standing between them and an unlikely Final Four appearance.
Calipari, meanwhile, said he was “proud” of his team, which finished the regular season outside of the AP top 25, for even getting as far as the Sweet 16.
“It was a physical game and it got us a little out of rhythm,” Calipari said of the game. “We had our chances.”
Kentucky’s team this year was full of freshmen, but Calipari said it was “rewarding” to coach such a young squad.
“Both individually and collectively, this was a rewarding team for me,” he said. “I just wish it could have ended in another week.”
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