30-point favourites Kentucky escape 78-77 as coach Pope's 'hope you had fun' remark angers fans

Kentucky's college basketball team narrowly avoided a major upset on Friday night, beating the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 78-77 at Rupp Arena despite going into the game as 30-point favourites.

Northern Arizona had lost all three of its games before the matchup, and the fixture was supposed to be a 'get right' game for Kentucky. Instead, the Wildcats needed a near-miracle to escape with the win.

Late in the game, Northern Arizona players missed a series of opportunities at the free throw line, including the front ends of one-and-one chances. Those misses, and some Rupp Arena magic, ultimately handed Kentucky the one-point victory.

Kentucky's season was already off to a shaky start. The Wildcats had earlier endured a scare against James Madison and a 20-point defeat at the hands of the Kansas Jayhawks. For supporters of the eight-time national championship programme, the performance against Northern Arizona was close to unthinkable.

Head coach Mark Pope then added to the controversy at the postgame news conference. 'I hope everyone in Rupp had fun,' he said, adding without a hint of irony: 'It's really entertaining. I think this will be a fun team to follow.'

After a $20 million roster was pushed to the brink by a mid-major opponent, the remarks drew sharp criticism of Pope from Kentucky fans and rivals alike. Critics argued that a coach of an eight-time national championship programme should never speak that way after such a game.

Pope's spring had already been eventful. He lost out on top recruit Tyran Stokes and had a disastrous question-and-answer session on social media, according to the report.

The Kentucky head coach's job is a pressure cooker in any case. Towards the end of his predecessor John Calipari's tenure, fans were ready to move on from him every season he failed to reach the Sweet 16. After the escape against Northern Arizona, that pressure on Pope has only grown.