Luke Hancock responds to SMU fans angry about final play

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.â€
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.â€
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.â€
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.â€
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.â€
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.â€