losing the game doesn’t call for the losing team to avoid the line for hand shakes

It is tradition, losing the game doesn’t call for the losing team to avoid the line for hand shakes and hugs, but this is what Kentucky’s men decided after their defeat to Kansas State Thursday night Their decision was to follow head coach John Calipari to the locker room after their season ended in Atlanta

By Arnie Leshin 

John Calipari, in the final game before his young and talented Kentucky basketball players head to the NBA, said that they (Kansas State) were turned and celebrating, so he didn’t want to show disrespect by getting in the middle, walked to his locker and his team followed.

“We had no intentional attempt to snub Kansas State,” he said in the aftermath of the defeat that ends this quest and followed by the college draft.

“My team’s are not like that. There’s no disrespect, Kansas State deserved to win the game.”

Yes, coach, but it’s rare, usually comes when the winning fans swarm the court and the losing team has no choice but to forget about before someone gets hurt.

But there was no such thing here. Last night’s men’s NCAA tournament
contest was a good one in the clash of the Wildcats. It was just pure basketball at a neutral court in Atlanta.

But once the final buzzer sounded, Kansas State did what every winning team does, and celebrated, but when head coach Bruce Weber called for his team to get on the shake hands line, there were no Kentucky Wildcats, not even head coach Calipari.

But what was Calipari thinking? He had to know that he and his team never did the hand shakes, the hugs, and were heading for the locker room just like him.

“They didn’t shake our hands,” said Kansas State guard Amaad Wainright.
“No excuses needed, they know what they did, or didn’t do. On that situation, it’s all about respect. That’s what it should have been – all about respect.”

KS forward Levi Stockard said he couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Their quick departure after losing did no seem accidental,” he said. “They just walked off the court. I don’t know what it was. I don’t know.”

Kansas State had never beaten Kentucky before, thus the joy of finally getting it done, especially in an event as special as this.

Weber also got a few words in.

“You know,” he said, “I’ve coached teams that were beaten handily, and still we waited until the other team celebrated and then stood on the line to shake hands, which everyone does.”

How about 16th seeded UMBC from Maryland shocking top seed Virginia by 20 points? Cavaliers’ head coach Tony Bennett and his team did not snub the Windy City players. Bennett showed class, even complimented UMBC on the air after the line ended.

Assume that Kentucky just couldn’t believe that what had transpired. After a season filled with ups and downs followed by impressive play in March Madness, maybe it thought it was going straight to the finals, and then it was all over for these Wildcats who start five freshmen.

Who knows, maybe they were too embarrassed to shake hands like gentlemen. Is this what this country teaches now? You don’t get your way so act like a baby and blame everybody else.

But what it all comes down to is did Calipari or any of his assistants lose their way? Their players sure knew the way to their locker room.

Typically, each year it is a new crop of one and doners. Impressive good seasons usually end this way against teams with players with more experience and maturity.

But when you defeat a team for the first time in 13 starts, and at the NCAA tournament, no problem with celebrating before following Weber to the lineup. That they did, the other Wildcats felt better just leaving the scene.