Don’t you guys just hate it when you want to watch the officials do their job and a basketball game breaks out? Yes, me too. The Kentucky Wildcats suffer their second conference loss to the Auburn Tigers in what was probably the worst called college basketball game of the season.
Auburn shot the most free throws in a game by an SEC team this season.
The Cats were called for 29 fouls and Auburn shot 44 free throws to Kentucky’s 24. Not a recipe for success. Kentucky also allowed tons of offensive boards and second-chance points. Not great, either.
To add on to it, Kentucky basically got no-show games from Nick Richards and Ashton Hagans, which also led to the eventual loss. Hagans specifically played under his potential tonight. Tyrese Maxey and Immanuel Quickley tried their best to keep the Cats afloat, but to no avail.
Anyway, Kentucky is back home against Mississippi State on Tuesday night.
Here’s what social media had to say about what we witnessed:
Final from Auburn pic.twitter.com/JFS6updZor
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 2, 2020
It is unfortunate we have to go into every game wondering ‘Will Kentucky be good enough, AND will the refs be good enough?’
— A Sea of Blue (@ASeaOfBlue) February 2, 2020
Go get a fine Calipari. Pull a Bray/Huggins/etc. Only way officiating gets better if guys keep speaking out
— Bobby Reagan (@BarstoolReags) February 2, 2020
Weird game
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) February 2, 2020
Tough loss
I still think winning 2 of 3 in the road trio of Arkansas, Texas Tech and Auburn is very good
This is the 293rd game of the season that proves NCAA officiating is trash.
— Travis Graf (@Trav_Graf) February 2, 2020
Auburn has shot 40 Free Throws. That is insane. ESPECIALLY when you consider they have also taken 23 Threes
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) February 2, 2020
Basically every thing Auburn does that isn’t a three is a foul
Embarrassing
42 free throws lol
— Jarred Vanderbilt (@JVando) February 2, 2020
MOOD pic.twitter.com/WXyhDGBENJ
— ThrowboyTees (@ThrowboyTees) February 2, 2020
All while attempting 23 three pointers... https://t.co/dEbyfLqRuv
— Kelly Thompson (@FantasyFballNut) February 2, 2020
FINAL: Auburn 75, Kentucky 66
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) February 2, 2020
Getting 24 free throws to the Tigers' 44 is a killer, but so is your star point guard just not having it at all. Not sure what happened to Hagans, but it was a mess.
Worse: almost nothing from the big guys. Auburn got 17 offensive boards.
That was a horrendous officiated game. Hagans was awful. Kentucky blew the game. Go beat Mississippi State and Tennessee now.
— Bobby Reagan (@BarstoolReags) February 2, 2020
Everybody’s champions. Teams don’t celebrate like that for beating any other team in the country besides Kentucky
— Jonny David (@JonnyDavid) February 2, 2020
The worst officiating of the year in UK Auburn..UK was absolutely taken out of this game.. Terrible
— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) February 2, 2020
“No fouls are being called in this game,” says Jay Bilas in a game where Auburn has shot 34 free throws midway through the second half.
— Not Jerry Tipton (@NotJerryTipton) February 2, 2020
Immanuel Quickley says Auburn tougher than Kentucky today. Officiating was rough but can't be an excuse. "We just gotta take this one on the chin ... we just didn't get it done."
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) February 2, 2020
The 44 free-throw attempts by Auburn are the 2nd most in regulation by an opponent against Kentucky in the John Caipari era (45, North Carolina, 12/14/13)
— Corey Price (@coreyp08) February 2, 2020
I am still very optimistic about this team
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) February 2, 2020
They can play with anyone at their best
And everyone in college basketball sucks this year
The weekend wasn’t totally lost, however.
Kentucky lead recruiter and tight ends coach Vince Marrow announced that he would remain at Kentucky instead of taking the open head coaching job at Youngstown State, which is Marrow’s hometown school.
It might be the biggest recruiting win of the season, as Marrow has brought in tons of talent an dis responsible for Kentucky dominating recruiting in Kentucky, Ohio, and now creeping up into Michigan.
Four-star APB Michael Drennen II said that Marrow leaving or staying could have an impact on where he chooses to sign in less than a week. He is down to Kentucky and USC.
Here is how social media reacted to the return of the Big Dog:
Hey BBN I love ❤️ and appreciate you guys more than you know! It’s been a pleasure working for UK fans across the country. That said my desire to stay in the Commonwealth is greater than my desire to return to Youngstown and be Head Coach. Thanks for the respect & consideration
— CoachMarrowUK (@vincemarrow) February 1, 2020
YAHTZEE!!!! https://t.co/tXjuU5Wj98
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) February 1, 2020
I love Vince Marrow so much https://t.co/luFRQdf62e
— Cameron Newton (@morrisoncrying) February 1, 2020
Kentucky keeping Vince Marrow is arguably as huge as any player signing that occurred in December. Of the top 50 recruits who’ve signed with UK since 2000, per 247Sports, 36 of them have occurred with Marrow on staff. https://t.co/1FtN9S9FvB
— Josh Moore (@JoshMooreHL) February 1, 2020
Vince Marrow may be a head coach one day, somewhere, but he will never be more beloved than he is right in the role he's in. https://t.co/HbFtUZrh2a
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) February 1, 2020
Yeahhhh big dog‼️ @vincemarrow https://t.co/DGPxWI47jg
— Mr SNELL YA LATER (@benny_snell) February 1, 2020
After meeting with Youngstown State about their head coaching position, Vince Marrow announces he is staying at Kentucky.
— Not Jerry Tipton (@NotJerryTipton) February 1, 2020
Move over, Roman Empire.
There’s a new Greatest Dynasty Ever.
Does this mean we can go to the Elton John concert together
— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) February 1, 2020
Massive for @UKFootball
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) February 1, 2020
Kentucky gets their five star recruiter back. https://t.co/ddE7Onc4Fk
— Aaron Gershon (@agershon99) February 1, 2020
Big Dawg https://t.co/anxNs9X7dJ
— Kash Daniel (@KashDaniel15) February 1, 2020