sport news March Madness fans rip into LSU coach Kim Mulkey after she claimed she didn't ... trends now
Livid college basketball fans took aim at LSU head coach Kim Mulkey's excuse for her team missing the national anthem ahead of their March Madness clash against Iowa.
The LSU Tigers were beaten 94-87 by the Hawkeyes in Albany, where the latter's star player Caitlin Clark put on a 41-point masterclass to help her team advance to the Final Four of this year's NCAA tournament.
Yet earlier in the evening, the Tigers had sparked outrage when footage on social media appeared to show that LSU players skipped the national anthem before it played out at Times Union Center, while the Hawkeyes stood hand-in-hand on the court.
After LSU fell, Mulkey tried to justify her players' absence as she claimed that she wasn't even aware of when the anthem was played.
'Honestly, I don't even know when the anthem was played,' she told reporters. 'We kind of have a routine when they're on the floor, and they come off at the 12-minute mark. I don't know. We come in, and we do our pregame stuff. I'm sorry, listen, that's nothing intentionally done.'
Kim Mulkey apologized for her players leaving the court before the national anthem
LSU stars sparked outrage prior to their game against Iowa (left) on Monday night after leaving the court before the American national anthem was played
College basketball fans claimed that the coach's excuse made the situation worse
However, Mulkey's reasoning appears to have only worsened the situation as fans blasted the coach for the team's 'routine'.
'Now isn't that disgusting,' one social media user posted. 'She doesn't know when the Anthem is played. That tells you all you need to know.'
Another added: 'And that routine is leaving the floor prior to the playing of the United States National Anthem. Damn LSU!'
'I don't even know what time the anthem is played?!!! That's supposed to be better? Wow,' another outraged fan asked in disbelief.
'That response is wrong,' one hit back at Mulkey's comments. 'Why not have a routine to stay on the court to make sure you hear the national anthem?'
Some conceded that it was in fact normal for LSU to skip the national anthem, noting previous games, but argued that it only increased the level of disrespect from the Tigers.
'She was correct- they have a regular, disrespectful
