On Tuesday night, officials ejected Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall during an exhibition game in Montreal. An exhibition game, folks.
Marshall confronted an official after he received his second technical foul in his team’s 77-71 win over McGill University. The coach took his “Play Angry” motto to another level as players and assistants attempted to restrain an irate Marshall.
Where does his meltdown rank among college basketball’s greatest? Not even in the top five.
The following meltdowns are so iconic, they’re recognized by simple phrases.
1. Bob Knight throws a chair
It’s the greatest in-game meltdown in college basketball history, the one we all reference when any coach throws a fit and gets tossed. Knight’s ejection in the first five minutes of a loss to rival Purdue in a Feb. 23, 1985, matchup was an epic performance. It all started when Indiana picked up its sixth foul just minutes into the game. Knight let the officials know how he felt about the foul call, which led to a technical. Then, Knight picked up a chair and made history.
“It was surreal,” Charlie Miller, a member of the Indiana band at the time, told Sports Illustrated. “But his throwing the chair was the affirmation we were seeking. See, it was a bulls--- call.”
Knight picked up two more techs after the chair toss.
2. John Chaney threatens John Calipari’s life
Chaney’s postgame rant against the former UMass coach in 1994 wasn’t really a meltdown -- it was more of a “Should we call the cops?” moment. Chaney, who coached Temple, was frustrated that Calipari had chided the officials after his team’s win. Chaney didn’t like that, which led to memorable lines such as this: “You remember that ... when I see you I’m gonna kick your ass.” The duo squashed their beef and even took a fun photo together years later. We’ll be talking about that incident, however, until the end of time.
3. Boeheim's flapping suit coat
In the final seconds of his team’s 66-60 loss at Duke during the 2013-14 season, C.J. Fair drove to the rim and Rodney Hood stepped in front of him, drawing the charge. Boeheim was furious. And the subsequent meltdown -- Boeheim nearly tore his jacket off -- and ejection led to the greatest meme in recent college basketball history.
4. Mick Cronin vs. Teddy Valentine
This makes the list because a coach and an official failed to restrain themselves in the heat of the moment in a 2013-14 matchup. Official Ted Valentine’s possession call against Cincy didn’t sit well with Cronin, who yelled at Valentine from the sideline. But Valentine went nose-to-nose with Cronin in one of the game’s more awkward freakouts. Valentine didn’t demonstrate the professional etiquette that officiating crews must show in these moments. And Cronin flipped out on every person, including an assistant, who tried to hold him back. Somehow he didn’t get ejected. A crazy moment for all involved.
5. Pat Knight’s “seniors” rant
It only makes sense that Bob Knight’s son makes this list, too. Former Lamar coach Pat Knight’s 2012 wild postgame critique of his team started when he kicked a player off the dais because “you don’t have a clue of what it takes to win.” Then, he called his veterans “the worst group of seniors I’ve ever been associated with” before he listed their individual flaws. “If people have a problem with me being so harsh, I don’t care,” Knight said. Apple doesn’t fall far, huh? That team actually earned a trip to the NCAA tournament, but Lamar fired Knight two years later.