NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Kentucky, the No. 1 team in America, did not cut down the nets after it secured the SEC tournament championship with a victory over Arkansas on Sunday at Bridgestone Arena.
Team officials said the decision was spontaneous and related to time constraints. Team spokeswoman Deb Moore said the team wanted more time to prepare for the NCAA tournament selection show. And coach John Calipari later said the team simply forgot.
The team's managers cut down the nets after players and coaches had left the court.
But players offered opposing reasons for the decision.
Karl-Anthony Towns, who was wearing one of the nets in the locker room after the game, said players didn't want to cut them down.
"We all looked at each other, and we all said that this is not over," said Towns, who added that he wasn't sure how he had acquired the net he wore around his neck. "We have a lot more to strive for."
Dakari Johnson, however, offered a different explanation.
"I think we just forgot," he said.
Willie Cauley-Stein commented on not cutting down the nets at the postgame news conference.
"Those aren't the nets we're really looking to cut down," the junior forward said. "It's just a milestone. It's just part of the process for us winning and everything, but we're looking for something bigger. We're looking to cut down a couple more nets in the tournament."
Kentucky earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.
