Luke Hancock responds to SMU fans angry about final play

[PonyTime]

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20140305/SPORTS02/303060033/Morning-Kickoff-Louisville-s-Luke-Hancock-responds-SMU-fans-angry-about-final-play

You can’t expect a group of college basketball players to take verbal abuse for two hours, plus the social media fallout, without issuing a bit of a response.

The University of Louisville’s Luke Hancock and Montrezl Harrell were hearing plenty from SMU fans after last night’s victory in Dallas, particularly because of the final 84-71 score and the way the Cardinals reached it.

Hancock, attempting to dribble the clock out, had the ball stolen by SMU freshman guard Sterling Brown. Rather than give up the easy bucket, Hancock chased Brown down the floor, forced him into a missed layup and took off running the other way.

His weave through SMU defenders ended with a bounce pass to the dunk specialist Harrell, who put an exclamation point on the evening with a massive slam. The boos and tweets ensued.

“I just don't get it?!?!? If u wanna play till the buZZER we will play till the buzzer. A freshmen got treated like a freshmen. ... Sorry that's the way it goes..” Hancock posted to his Instagram account, screen capturing four Twitter replies to Harrell that included messages such as “pls die right now” and “I now hate everyone involved with Louisville basketball.”

Coach Rick Pitino said he expected “bedlam” and got it from a sold-out Moody Coliseum, where it cost more for one ticket last night than the Mustangs’ entire season ticket package. Pitino even joked after the game, “I’m real proud of our guys because this was a real tough environment. Obviously they serve alcohol here.”

The 2013 Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player further stuck up for his teammate, adding, “#cardnation get of my man trez back. ... I woulda done the same thing.”

[PonyTime]

And if these are SMU fans posting to his twitter - that is extremely classless:

http://instagram.com/p/lMgTFdnhYU/#

Especially Omar Abdelrazik - wishing for someone to die is not funny.

[Hoop Fan]

A freshman got treated like a freshman? Wow. Nothing wrong with what sterling did, his team was behind.

[Duke Blue Blood]

Looks like one of those was indeed an SMU student. The other don't appear to have any relation to SMU. This is the bad side of social media. I hope that kid takes that down and apologizes!

[malachi896]

A freshman got treated like a freshman? Wow. Nothing wrong with what sterling did, his team was behind.

And nothing wrong with what they did in response. I'm proud of Sterling for playing to the whistle. 3 of our other guys just walked off the court while Luke ran the ball back.

[friarwolf]

No, a freshmen got treated like a freshmen.........

[fifty]

In big time basketball you're going to get dunked on and/or get your feelings hurt. Not a soiree. Be thankful it's University Park and not Harlem on the wrong day. Forget about it or use it as fuel for the future.

[PerunaLove]

Coach Rick Pitino said he expected “bedlam” and got it from a sold-out Moody Coliseum, where it cost more for one ticket last night than the Mustangs’ entire season ticket package. Pitino even joked after the game, “I’m real proud of our guys because this was a real tough environment. Obviously they serve alcohol here.”

"Obviously they serve alcohol here"
- Rick Pitino's thoughts on Moody Colliseum and also Applebee's

[SMU 86]

A freshman got treated like a freshman? Wow. Nothing wrong with what sterling did, his team was behind.

I noticed you did not say anything about the tweets.

[ojaipony]

In big time basketball you're going to get dunked on and/or get your feelings hurt. Not a soiree. Be thankful it's University Park and not Harlem on the wrong day. Forget about it or use it as fuel for the future.

This ^^.

I just wish we weren't in that position to begin with. I've been around SMU long enough to know that this is far more the norm than the exception for us. (the wins against Cincy, UConn, and Memphis are the exceptions). I went to see much less of this in basketball in the next few years please. thank you.

[Hoop Fan]

A freshman got treated like a freshman? Wow. Nothing wrong with what sterling did, his team was behind.

I noticed you did not say anything about the tweets.

Not really interested in dumb fan tweets. But what Hancock says about sterling brown getting treated like a freshman is quite a public statement by a player.

[SMU 86]

A freshman got treated like a freshman? Wow. Nothing wrong with what sterling did, his team was behind.

I noticed you did not say anything about the tweets.

Not really interested in dumb fan tweets. But what Hancock says about sterling brown getting treated like a freshman is quite a public statement by a player.

Tweets were public as well but whatever. We will probably never play Louisville again so what does it matter what Hancock says anyway. Beat Memphis.

[Lebanese4Life]

How much time was on the clock when Sterling stole the ball from Hancock?

[Hideki Matt Suhey]

Coach Rick Pitino said he expected “bedlam” and got it from a sold-out Moody Coliseum, where it cost more for one ticket last night than the Mustangs’ entire season ticket package. Pitino even joked after the game, “I’m real proud of our guys because this was a real tough environment. Obviously they serve alcohol here.”

"Obviously they serve alcohol here"
- Rick Pitino's thoughts on Moody Colliseum and also Applebee's

Again, why does everyone refer to Applebee's? Pitino's "15 Seconds of Love" was at some place called Porcini, not Applebee's. If we're going to taunt opposing teams and coaches like this, let's do some fact-checking first.

[PerunaLove]

Coach Rick Pitino said he expected “bedlam” and got it from a sold-out Moody Coliseum, where it cost more for one ticket last night than the Mustangs’ entire season ticket package. Pitino even joked after the game, “I’m real proud of our guys because this was a real tough environment. Obviously they serve alcohol here.”

"Obviously they serve alcohol here"
- Rick Pitino's thoughts on Moody Colliseum and also Applebee's

Again, why does everyone refer to Applebee's? Pitino's "15 Seconds of Love" was at some place called Porcini, not Applebee's. If we're going to taunt opposing teams and coaches like this, let's do some fact-checking first.

The idea of someone having a 15 second sexual encounter in an Applebee's bathroom is about a billion times funnier so I'm gonna keep rollin' with that.