Friday saw some coaching fireworks at the SEC women's basketball tournament in Nashville, Tennessee.
Kim Mulkey, known for her sometimes theatrical sideline interactions with officials during her 21 years at Baylor, had her first postseason altercation in her inaugural season at LSU. It happened near the end of the No. 2 seed Tigers' 78-63 quarterfinal loss to No. 7 seed Kentucky.
Mulkey was upset by a no-call against Kentucky's Jazmine Massengill in the fourth quarter when LSU guard Khayla Pointer fell to the floor after attempting a 3-point shot in front of the Tigers bench. Mulkey yelled at official Billy Smith and then followed him out on the court. After Smith called her for a technical, Mulkey continued to follow him but was coaxed back to the bench by LSU assistant coach Sytia Messer and players Autumn Newby and Faustine Aifuwa.
"I thought she got fouled after the shot," Mulkey said after the game. "She did not get fouled when she went up. But it's been a point of emphasis; we've had it called on us two or three times this year. I thought after the contest [of the shot], she just laid on top of Khayla. That's what I saw. ... It was right there in front of me."
The 25-5 Tigers were without injured starting guard Alexis Morris, but Friday's loss is not expected to cost them a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. The top 16 seeds in the women's bracket host early-round games.
"March 13, we'll find out our seeding, and hopefully it will be a great atmosphere in Baton Rouge and Alexis Morris will be back," Mulkey said. "And let's move on."
While some might have wondered why Mulkey didn't get a second technical and ejection, Alabama coach Kristy Curry was tossed in the next game at Bridgestone Arena after she picked up two technicals in the second quarter of a 74-59 loss to Tennessee.
"I'm not going to apologize for the passion," Curry said afterward. "But if I talk about officiating, I'll be held accountable. ... Just want to turn the focus to how proud I am of our kids and that locker room."
No. 11 seed Alabama upset No. 6 Georgia on Thursday, moving the Crimson Tide closer to possible NCAA tournament inclusion. A win over the No. 3 seed Lady Vols would have helped a lot, but the 17-13 Crimson Tide will have to see what Selection Sunday brings.