SEC Basketball

Stallings apologizes after outburst

In this Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, photo, Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings, left, instructs players during an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings apologized Thursday night for an "inappropriate comment" after television cameras caught him yelling at Commodores guard Wade Baldwin following their 73-65 victory over Tennessee. (AP Photo/Knoxville News Sentinel, Jessica Tezak)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings apologized Thursday night for an "inappropriate comment" after television cameras caught him yelling at Commodores guard Wade Baldwin following a 73-65 victory over Tennessee.

Baldwin clapped in the face of Tennessee forward Armani Moore after the game. During postgame handshakes, television replays showed that Stallings appeared to shout obscenities and say that he could "kill" Baldwin.

In a university statement, Stallings said that "one of our players acted inappropriately and violated what we believe to be is good sportsmanship following the game. In my haste to resolve the situation, I made a very inappropriate comment. While obviously it was not meant literally, it was still inappropriate. I apologized to the player immediately following the game."

Stallings said he was "very remorseful of my actions tonight."

Baldwin tweeted out his support for Stallings later Thursday night.

"Coach Stallings is the best coach in America," Baldwin tweeted. "I felt no offense to anything. We are both fiery people and that's why I chose Vandy."