WATCH: Micah Shrewsberry calls out Big Ten officials following loss to Purdue

Penn State coach Micah Shrewsberry had some choice words for Big Ten officials following a 76-63 loss to Purdue on Sunday night. Asked about a technical foul he received in the second half, the Nittany Lions coach didn’t hold anything back.

Shrewsberry went into a rant about the poor officiating all evening long, citing a combined 10 free throws between the two teams as one of his key concerns.

“There was 1,000 points I was trying to make,” an irritated Shrewsberry said. “I don’t know. You get frustrated after a while. This isn’t a one-time thing. This is an every time thing. I know I haven’t been here — I haven’t done anything in my career to earn any kind of good will from the officials, but we shot three free throws. I know they shot seven, but it was a really physical game. The game didn’t warrant 10 free throws by both teams. Both teams were out there fouling. If we want to be the best league in the country, then we need our officials to be the best in the country.”

Penn State basketball Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry comments on Big Ten officiating and technical foul. pic.twitter.com/oQmXjVR41m

— Noah Riffe (@NoahRiffe) January 9, 2023

Penn State entered halftime leading the No. 1 Boilermakers 37-31, but completely collapsed in the second half. The Nittany Lions allowed Purdue to shoot 66.7% from the field in the second half, giving up 30 points and 13 rebounds to center Zach Edey in the game.

It’s clear those frustrations got to Shrewsberry, as the technical against him was just his second since taking over the Nittany Lions last season.

“I’ve gotten two technical fouls now in 15 games this year, 36 games total,” he said. “I’m not out there cussing anybody out. I’m not saying anything, but I get frustrated, man. Don’t call the game one way and then call the game a different way in the second half. Call a foul if you see a foul. You know what? This might hurt me when we play Indiana because somebody’s feelings is hurt when I’m saying this. But I’m gonna fight for my guys. Always. I’m always gonna fight for this program. I don’t care what anyone thinks about that at all.”

It wasn’t just the Purdue game that left Shrewsberry frustrated, however. The coach also brought up an earlier game this week against Michigan, saying that one official failed to “call me by my right name.”

He went on to call for more consistency across the conference.

“We’ve got big-time refs that are coming into this league and doing different things,” Shrewsberry said. “I can’t have a ref not know my name at Michigan. Call me by my right name. Don’t come in here in the Palestra and treat me like I don’t know basketball, treat me like I can’t see the game and don’t understand the game. This has nothing to do with Purdue. Purdue kicked our ass in the second half. That was all them. But I get frustrated. I’m gonna fight for my guys. I’m always gonna fight for my guys. If I’ve got to get a tech, I’ve got to get a tech. If I have to get kicked out, I have to get kicked out. I’m going to fight for my guys. I’m going to fight for this program to get some freaking respect.”

Penn State fell to 11-5 (2-3 Big Ten) with the loss. They’ll hope to bounce back against No 15 Indiana at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday at home.