In a recent SEC Tournament quarterfinal game between Ole Miss and Texas, a total of 53 fouls were called—27 on Ole Miss and 26 on Texas. Despite the game’s physicality and the frequent whistles, Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, known as Coach Yo, emphasized her team’s resilience and refrained from criticizing the officiating. She stated, “For me, I’m not going to sit up here and cry like some people do. I thought it was a physical game. Both teams wanted it.”
Coach Yo’s remarks came a day after Ole Miss defeated Mississippi State, a game in which Mississippi State’s coach, Sam Purcell, expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating. In contrast, McPhee-McCuin highlighted her commitment to focusing on her team’s performance rather than officiating, reflecting her philosophy of embracing the physical nature of the Southeastern Conference.
In the matchup against Texas, the Rebels faced challenges due to the game’s physicality. They struggled offensively in the third quarter, going without a field goal for the last eight minutes, and three players fouled out. Despite these obstacles, Coach Yo maintained her stance on not attributing the game’s outcome to officiating, reinforcing her belief in toughness and competitiveness as core aspects of her team’s identity.
For more insights from Coach Yo and guard KK Deans following the game, you can watch their post-game press conference below: