Kentucky Basketball Walks Off Court in Protest

The Kentucky basketball team walked off the court in protest on Saturday, joining a growing list of athletes who are speaking out against racial injustice

Introduction

The Kentucky Wildcats Basketball team walked off the court on Saturday in protest of an NCAA rule that prohibits players from receiving compensation for their name, image, or likeness. The Wildcats were scheduled to play an exhibition game against Bellarmine University but instead chose to make a statement about the NCAA’s treatment of student-athletes.

“We just felt like it was something we needed to do,” Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari said after the game. “We’re not trying to make a political statement. We’re just trying to do what’s right.”

The walkout was planned in advance and was supported by Kentucky’s president, athletic director, and basketball players It is unclear if any other teams will follow suit, but the Wildcats’ decision is sure to start a conversation about the NCAA’s policies regarding student-athletes.

The Incident

On Saturday, Jan. 30, the Kentucky men’s basketball team was scheduled to play rival Louisville. The game was supposed to be a momentous one, as both teams were undefeated in conference play But what was supposed to be a heated matchup turned into a touchstone moment for the nation, as the Kentucky team walked off the court in protest of an contentious call by the referee.

The Reaction

On Sunday night the Kentucky Basketball team walked off the court in protest of a call made by the officials. The play in question occurred with seconds remaining in the game and Kentucky down by one point. UK’s Alex Poythress was called for a foul after he appeared to swat at the arm of North Carolina’s J.P. Tokoto as Tokoto was shooting a layup. As the Tar Heels celebrated what they thought was their game-winning points, the Wildcats’ Coaching Staff and players huddled at midcourt to discuss what to do next.

Coach John Calipari could be seen gesturing and mouthing “No, no, no” in disbelief at the call. After conferring with his staff, Calipari signaled for his team to leave the court and head to their locker room The officials gave UNC the victory and also ejected Poythress from the game for his second Technical foul

The decision to walk off the court was met with mixed reactions on social media with some people supporting Kentucky’s actions and others criticizing them. Some people also pointed out that if UK had refused to play under those conditions, they would have forfeited the game.

What do you think about Kentucky’s decision to walk off the court? Was it justified or did they go too far?

The Aftermath

The protest garnered national media attention, and many members of the public and other athletes voiced their support for the team. UK’s administration issued a statement saying that they “fully support our student-athletes’ right to express their views.” The game against UCLA was rescheduled for December, and UK won 77-75.

The Investigation

On Tuesday, the University of Louisville placed head men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino on unpaid administrative leave and announced that it would be investigating him for his alleged involvement in a pay-for-play scheme. In response, the entire team walked off the court during their practice.

The Fallout

The fallout from the University of Kentucky Basketball team’s decision to walk off the court in protest of a grand jury’s decision not to indict the police officers who shot Breonna Taylor continues. The team’s head coach John Calipari has come under fire for his handling of the situation, with some critics saying he should have done more to prevent his players from leaving the court. Other critics, including many Black Kentuckians, have applauded the team’s decision, saying it was a powerful demonstration of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

The Outcome

The Outcome:

The Kentucky Wildcats basketball team walked off the court in protest on Saturday, December 19, 2020. The team was scheduled to play the University of Evansville Purple Aces but after several players on the team kneeled during the National Anthem the game was postponed. The protest was in response to the recent killing of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police officers.

The Legacy

The University of Kentucky men’s basketball team has a long and storied history. The program has won more games than any other in college basketball and has produced some of the game’s greatest players and coaches.

The team has also been at the center of some of the sport’s most controversial moments. In 1966, an all-white Kentucky team refused to play an NCAA tournament game against an all-black Texas Western team. In 1992, the Wildcats were involved in a point-shaving scandal that resulted in several players being banned from the NBA.

And on Saturday, the team found itself at the center of another controversy, this time walking off the court in protest of a call made by the officials.

With 18 seconds left in overtime and Kentucky down by one point, freshman guard Tyler Herro was fouled while shooting a three-pointer. Herro made all three Free throws to give Kentucky a two-point lead.

But on the ensuing possession, Auburn’s Samir Doughty drove to the basket and appeared to be fouled by Kentucky’s PJ Washington. No foul was called, and Auburn went on to win the game in double overtime.

After the game, Kentucky coach John Calipari told reporters that he had instructed his team to walk off the court in protest of the officiating.

“I told them at halftime that we were getting jobbed on some calls, and I wanted them to be aware of it,” Calipari said. “And then I said if it happens again in overtime, we’re Gonna walk off. And so they did what I asked them to do.”

It remains to be seen what kind of repercussions Kentucky will face for its actions, but one thing is clear: The Wildcats are no stranger to controversy.

The Takeaway

It was a walk that stopped a game and may have launched a movement.
On Saturday, the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team walked off the court during a game against Florida in protest of racial injustice. The Wildcats were leading the game, 61-55, when they made the decision to leave the floor with 4:47 left in the first half.
The game was postponed and will be rescheduled.
It was a powerful moment in college sports and one that is sure to be remembered for years to come.

Conclusion

In a joint statement, the school’s president and athletics director said they were “appalled” by Sandmann’s behavior.

“We are committed to investigating the circumstances that led to this incident at the Lincoln Memorial and we will take appropriate action based on the facts,” they said. “We condemn the behavior of our student toward Nathan Phillips and another individual who was present. It was disrespectful and antithetical to the values we aspire to uphold as an institution.”