Kim Mulkey Wondered Why UK Did Not Host LSU In Rupp Arena

Georgia Amoore (Vicky Graff Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

LSU coach Kim Mulkey is not one to mince words with her team, fans or anyone else.

She certainly didn’t after No. 7 LSU rallied from 1 6-point deficit in the first half Sunday to beat No. 14 Kentucky 65-58 in a sold-out Memorial Coliseum

“Okay, let me just – and I don’t want anybody to take this wrong. I need y’all to give me feedback, fair enough?” Mulkey said during her press conference. “Why are they not playing in Rupp?”

Kentucky women’s basketball did play at Rupp Arena last season when Memorial Coliseum was being renovated. At other times has played one or maybe two games at Rupp some seasons. Rupp seats around 14,000 more than Memorial where a crowd of 6,000-plus can give UK an intimidating home-court edge.

Mulkey thought UK could have the same advantage, or maybe bigger, at Rupp and seemed genuinely surprised when media members said they thought UK players were fine playing in Memorial Coliseum.

“So, if you were a women’s basketball player, you’re cool with not playing in Rupp? Okay. I just didn’t know. I’m sitting here going, ‘Hmmm, could they have filled Rupp up today?’ Mulkey said.

“When I was at Baylor (coaching), they played in Rupp – or the game they played us at Baylor was in Rupp. So that’s a question that, you know, maybe I’ll ask (UK coach) Kenny (Brooks) when I get a moment – is that an advantage or a disadvantage that they play here versus Rupp? Does it hurt or help you in recruiting?”

Mulkey said has had “great women’s basketball players” to emphasize her point that the game should maybe have been in Rupp Arena.

“Kentucky is Kentucky. Y’all are a blue blood, right? It’s what people say – a blue blood, a blue blood in men’s basketball, for sure,” she said.

Was that a little shot at Brooks and the UK women who are 21-5 overall and fourth in the SEC at 10-4? Maybe, maybe not because with Mulkey it is hard to tell.

However, she did praise Brooks and understands what a special job he’s done putting together a team so quickly that can compete in the SEC and nationally.

“It’s a different style with Kentucky,” Mulkey said. “Tall, spread the floor on you, a tremendous point guard (Georgia Amoore) who makes everybody else better. Not only can she score it, but she can get her teammates’ open looks.

“I’ve been in a lot of conferences as a player and as a coach, but the SEC is just so athletic. Just athleticism everywhere. You always see speed. You always see, just athletes. Each coach has a different style with their athletes. But it’s a grind in this league, and, man, when the NCAAs come, you’re like, ‘thank goodness.’”