LSU coach Kim Mulkey is becoming a meme thanks to her flamboyant reaction to her Tigers' conference tournament upset
- Kim Mulkey is best known for her top-notch basketball coaching and flamboyance on the sidelines.
- The LSU coach had a characteristically animated reaction during the Tigers' SEC Tournament game against Tennessee.
LSU's SEC Tournament semifinal matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers came down to the final seconds of play.
And it's safe to say Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey was not happy with the outcome.
The legendary coach is just as well-known for her over-the-top reactions as she is for her Hall of Fame career and trio of national championship rings. So when her squad took a last-second loss on a controversial foul call on Saturday in Greenville, South Carolina, Mulkey was characteristically flamboyant in her response.
With less than 20 seconds left to play and LSU trailing by a single point, the Tigers put the ball in the hands of superstar forward Angel Reese. The 6-foot-3 walking double-double — who ranks among the Top 5 in the country in both points and rebounds per game — drove from the top of the key to the low block, attempting to scoop a shot under her Tennessee defender.
The ball dribbled off the rim as the referee blew her whistle. But instead of heading to the line for two free throws, Reese was called for an offensive foul that gave possession to the Volunteers.
And Mulkey. Was. Livid.
Here's a closer look at her reaction, which inspired memes across social media:
"I thought we were shooting two free throws, so I was heading back to whatever to get my thoughts together," Mulkey said during the post-game press conference. "And then they said, 'Coach, she called an offensive foul.'"
"I just thought she was shooting two free throws," she added with a slight shake of her head.
Fortunately for Mulkey, LSU will have its shot at redemption in just a few weeks' time. The Tigers are all but certain to earn an at-large bid for this year's NCAA tournament, with ESPN's Charlie Creme projecting the Tigers as a No. 3 seed.
LSU hopes to advance past the second round of the Big Dance, where the Tigers fell to Ohio State in last year's tournament. The Tigers will learn where they're headed — and who they'll have to face to get to the Sweet 16 — come Selection Sunday at the start of next week.