March Madness supporters slam LSU coach Kim Mulkey for claiming she didn’t know when the national anthem is played as a ‘pathetic’ explanation for the Tigers’ no-show before their defeat to Iowa. ‘That was supposed to be better?’

Livid college basketball fans criticized LSU head coach Kim Mulkey’s explanation for her team’s absence from the national anthem ahead of their March Madness game versus Iowa. The Hawkeyes defeated the LSU Tigers 94-87 in Albany, with the latter’s standout player Caitlin Clark delivering a 41-point performance to help her side progress to the Final Four of this year’s NCAA Tournament.

Earlier in the evening, the Tigers provoked uproar when social media footage appeared to show LSU players skipping the national anthem before it played at Times Union Center, while the Hawkeyes stood together on the court.

Mulkey attempted to defend her players’ absence by claiming that she was unaware of when the anthem was played. ‘Honestly, I have no idea when the anthem was played,’ she told reporters. ‘We have a procedure when they’re on the floor, and they come off at the 12-minute mark. I do not know. We come in and conduct our pregame routine. I’m sorry, listen, that wasn’t done purposefully.

However, Mulkey’s argument appears to have exacerbated the matter, with fans blasting the coach for the team’s ‘routine’. ‘Now isn’t that disgusting?’ one social media user wrote. ‘She’s unaware of when the national anthem is played. That reveals everything you need to know. Another added, ‘And that procedure includes leaving the floor before the performance of the United States National Anthem. Damn, LSU!’

‘I have no idea what time the anthem is played!!! Is that meant to be better? Another enraged fan exclaimed in disbelief. One person responded to Mulkey’s words by saying, “That response is wrong.” “Why not have a routine to stay on the court to ensure you hear the national anthem?” Some accepted that it was normal for LSU to ignore the national anthem, citing past games, but claimed that it just enhanced the Tigers’ contempt.

“She was correct–they have a regular, disrespectful routine of leaving the court when the national anthem is played,” one user wrote. ‘In exchange, there should be a routine policy of withholding federal funding from universities that allow it, as well as students who do not respect the country that provides it. Allow a country they respect to pay more for their education.

Another chimed in, writing: ‘I agree 100%. Having said that, they did not do it intentionally this game. They do it every game as part of their routine. 12 minutes on the court – then they leave – with zero regard for the National Anthem. So, I guess that makes it worse. That’s on Mulkey!! She is done.’

Others took aim at Mulkey’s coaching ability arguing it was her responsibility to know when the anthem is scheduled to be played and to ensure her players are on the court for it.

‘Coach Mulkey, pull your head out of the sand,’ one posted. ‘You are in a national championship tournament. It is your RESPONSIBILITY to know the schedule of events and adapt. Your arrogance is stunning and your team is a disgrace.’

One college basketball fan added: ‘Just another lie, no one takes responsibility anymore, how about just saying the truth? My players didn’t want to be there, and I’m not a strong enough coach to stand up and speak the truth, so I let them walk all over me, and this is possibly why we lost. I’ll work harder at respecting our country and being a leader these girls can look up to. See how hard that is?

Cody Worsham, LSU’s Associate Athletic Director, stated that the procedure was program-wide, with the men’s basketball team exiting the court 12 minutes before the game. In a statement, he stated, “Our basketball programs have not been on the court for the anthem for the last several seasons.” Typically, the anthem is performed 12 minutes before the game while the squad is in the locker room making final preparations.’

Chessa Bouche, a reporter for Baton Rouge Proud News, told X on Monday night that the team is always in the locker room while the national anthem is played before a game. ‘If you ever attend an actual LSU game, you’ll see that they’re never on the court for the anthem. It is that simple. I’ve covered them for three years, and they’ve never been,” she added. ‘Neither LSU basketball nor LSU football are standing for the national anthem. That is the point. This was not a one-time incidence. Clarifying for the national media, who do not cover either team on a daily basis. That is all!

A photo shows Mulkey and the squad not standing for the national anthem at the 2023 NCAA tournament against the Miami Hurricanes has also surfaced. The photo, however, did not help Mulkey’s argument because it showed dissatisfied fans how long the team had performed the performance.