0
0
Gonzaga Coach Displeased with Oakland-Kentucky Game Display During NCAA Tournament
SALT LAKE CITY — Mark Few, the coach of Gonzaga, expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision to broadcast the Oakland-Kentucky game on the big screens above the court during his team’s NCAA tournament match against McNeese on Thursday evening.
During Gonzaga’s 86-65 victory in the first round, Few took the initiative to address this matter with tournament officials who were present courtside.
Following the game, Few commented on the incident, stating, “I appreciate you saying ‘talked’ to them about it. Let’s go with that description because, yeah, I just thought — I know, I guess, it’s protocol. We don’t need that. It’s the NCAA tournament. These kids are involved. It’s the biggest game of their lives. Those officials, you know, it’s a big moment for them. Everybody just needs to enjoy the game at hand. It doesn’t need to be like the Few house where we’re flipping channels every 15 seconds and not watching the show we’re supposed to be watching.”
Loud Reactions and Impact on the Game
The upset bid by Oakland led to loud reactions from the fans inside the Delta Center while the McNeese-Gonzaga match was underway. The situation escalated to the extent that when McNeese’s Christian Shumate was preparing for a free throw, the crowd erupted in cheers as Oakland’s Trey Townsend executed a steal. The atmosphere intensified every time Kentucky made an error or Oakland made a significant play to maintain their lead, prompting boisterous reactions from the crowd. At one point, a “Here we go, Oakland, here we go” chant even erupted among the spectators.
Twice, the Oakland-Kentucky game was turned off on the big screens, resulting in a chorus of boos from the audience. Although it was reinstated after the first instance, the display remained off after the second time, with only seconds remaining until Oakland secured the most significant upset of the tournament up to that point.
Expressing his concern, Few emphasized, “I really think that needs to change. It was impacting the game. Again, I mean, the McNeese people were there to watch McNeese; Gonzaga people were there to watch Gonzaga. It’s the NCAA tournament. If you can’t get entertained, then get out and let’s get somebody else in your seat. Plain and simple.”
Image/Photo credit: source url
