STARKVILLE — Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury”s lengthy diatribe about John Wall”s rebound in the waning seconds of Mississippi State”s loss to Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game will cost him $30,000.
The SEC announced Thursday, per league bylaw SEC Bylaw 10.5.4, which prohibits coaches, players and support personal from publicly criticizing officials, that Stansbury would be hit with the league”s first fine for a hoops coach for such an offense.
Stansbury”s critical comments came a day after Mississippi State lost 75-74 in overtime to Kentucky, costing the Bulldogs an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Stansbury was critical of a play at the end of regulation when he believed Wall committed a lane violation on a free throw attempt.
Wall rebounded a missed free throw and it led to Kentucky tying the score at the buzzer on a basket by DeMarcus Cousins.
Stansbury wasn”t aware of the violation at the time, but video replay clearly showed Wall was into the 3-point arc before the ball touched the rim and that caused his outburst during a media gathering.
Once during the media session, Stansbury said “I”m not talking about officiating, I”m talking about the play.”
But comments made before and after that disclaimer were clearly aimed at a call he thought should have been made.
“It”s a very obvious lane violation,” Stansbury said. “Both guys in that lane line up outside that three point line. Well the ball”s 6, 8 feet from the rim and you got two guys in the top of the paint, Wall and (Darius) Miller. It”s a very obvious lane violation. Obvious. It was not called.”
Stansbury continued: “If it”s the right call, you make the call. It”s a game-changing call. It wasn”t something that”s even close.”
Though Stansbury is the first SEC coach to be fined, Florida football coach Urban Meyer drew a $30,000 fine for comments about officiating after the Gators played Georgia this past season.
Meyer was the first league coach to be fined under the revised and strengthened policy, which was put in effect before the start of last football season.
Stansbury”s fine was announced exactly one month after his comments were made.
Meyer”s fine came one week after Florida and Georgia played and just two days after that game week”s SEC teleconference on Nov. 4, 2009.
Stansbury”s reaction to the fine, which was released through the university”s athletic department, didn”t address the timing or amount of the fine.
“It”s very obvious I”ve said enough already,” said Stansbury. “So, it is what it is.”
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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