John Calipari addresses mid-game argument with referee

During the first half of Kentucky’s 90-81 win over Alabama, head coach John Calipari had a strange run-in with lead official Pat Adams. Following a long replay review which granted the Wildcats two free throws, the coach and referee can face-to-face on the sideline in the middle of an intense argument.

During his postgame press conference, Kentucky’s John Calipari spoke highly of Pat Adams but questioned why the incident occurred.

“Somebody said Pat and I went nose-to-nose,” Calipari said, via KSR’s Tyler Thompson. “I like Pat, he’s a good guy. He charged me, but I’m good.”

Despite the strange interaction between the two, no technical foul was given as assistant coaches pulled Calipari away. Kentucky picked up momentum following the long pause in action, storming back to take a halftime lead which it extended in the second half.

Calipari has never been shy to have heated discussions with officials when he feels the time is right. He has received technical fouls and ejections throughout his Kentucky tenure for his words with referees and it has often had a positive impact on his team.

More on chaotic Kentucky sequence

A chaotic five-minute stoppage in the first half of Saturday’s Alabama at Kentucky game on CBS culminated in a dead-ball foul and two free throws. However, the process of getting there came with its fair share of confusion and angry shouts from both benches.

The stoppage started when Kentucky forward Lance Ware had an extended conversation with the referees about contact with Darius Miles during the previous play. The whistle blew and they went to the monitor to check for a flagrant foul.

During the extended break in the action, CBS showed replays where Lance Ware came together with Darius Miles for some trash talk before the later pushed his opponent in the face. No technical was given at the time, but the replay resulted in a dead-ball foul, which ESPN identified as a technical on its gamecast. Kentucky received two free throws as a result.

However, that was not the end of the delay. Kentucky coach John Calipari appeared to take issue with something in the explanation and screamed across the court at a referee. The lead official sprinted forward and came face-to-face with Calipari while exchanging words. Despite a heated discussion, no technical given and the referee moved on to a passionate Nate Oats pleading his case on the other side.