Kingsley's technicals adding up

Anderson ‘baffled’ by calls on big man

Arkansas guard Anthlon Bell (5) holds back forward Moses Kingsley (33) after Kingsley was called for a technical foul against Florida during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the O'Connell Center on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016 in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated Arkansas 87-83. (Matt Stamey/The Gainesville Sun via AP)

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas center Moses Kingsley was fouled by Florida's John Egbunu with 4:51 left in the game and the Gators leading 70-60 on Wednesday night in Gainesville, Fla.

Moments later, instead of the Razorbacks inbounding the ball, Florida was shooting two free throws.

Why?

Referee Pat Adams whistled a technical foul on Kingsley seconds after the Egbunu personal foul.

Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson described the technical as a "mystery call."

Kingsley was not made available for interviews Wednesday night or Thursday.

"Some times guys are jawing, and they [officials] can hear what they want to hear," Anderson said at his Thursday news conference. "The timing of it, to me, is problematic because it's happened in big games at big times."

It's not the first time Kingsley has drawn a technical foul seconds after another player was called for fouling him.

"I'm still baffled by it," Anderson said. "The ones he's getting, it's after he's been fouled, so maybe it's frustration."

The same thing occurred in Arkansas' 80-66 loss to Kentucky early in the second half with the Wildcats leading 40-26. After Kentucky's Alex Poythress fouled Kingsley, head referee Tony Greene blew his whistle, then hustled to the scorer's table to signal a technical against Kingsley.

Anderson was asked Thursday whether Kingsley's latest technical was due to using harsh language.

"They've got all kinds of reasons," Anderson said. "They think it's frustration. He's frustrated, and so it may be how some guys [opposing players] can get up under your skin.

"Now he's probably mouthing off back to the guy, and the official is right there. It's one of those situations where it's inexperience probably more than anything else."

Anderson said it might be a case where teams have identified Kingsley as someone to go after.

"Maybe they are targeting him, I don't know," he said. "It's just unfortunate that it happened, and I'm going to make sure it ain't going to happen again."

The SEC responded to a request for clarification on the technical foul from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Thursday.

"Moses Kingsley was assessed a Class A unsporting technical foul for unsportsmanlike behavior last night," SEC Director of Communications Craig Pinkerton wrote.

Arkansas guard Jabril Durham was nearby when Kingsley received his technical in the 87-83 loss.

"He wasn't even talking to the ref," Durham said. "He wasn't talking to anybody. I thought he was talking to us.

"But you know they were at home, and it was a controversial call, but hey, we've got to learn from it, and Moses can't put himself in any predicament like that, especially since we got the foul called for us. We just can't have those mishaps like that."

Arkansas senior Anthlon Bell rushed in to restrain Kingsley after Wednesday's technical, and Anderson subbed out for the 6-10 junior to let him calm down.

Florida guard KeVaughn Allen (North Little Rock High School) made two free throws after Kingsley's technical foul to put the Gators ahead 72-60. Arkansas closed with a furious rally but could not overtake the Gators.

The technical counted as Kingsley's fourth personal foul of the game, and he picked up his fifth at the 1:25 mark, fouling out for the fourth time this season.

"I think the only reason he got in foul trouble last night is he got a technical foul," Anderson said. "But I think he's just got to learn how to play and play smart. That's the biggest key there.

"People are going to attack him. I mean, he's not the Moses that played 10 minutes last year. He's in a different role now. So, from a defensive standpoint people are going to attack him, and even offensively they're doubling up on him a lot more.

"But it's a learning curve for him. So that means you've got to learn how to play and put yourself in position and not get some cheap fouls. Because a lot of them are cheap fouls."

Sports on 02/05/2016