Louisville coach Chris Mack apologizes for ESPN halftime interview
Halftime interviews — who needs them?
Coaches don't like them. Fans don't need them. But television networks crave them, and ESPN's Allison Williams conducted one with Louisville coach Chris Mack before he headed into the locker room against Virginia Tech with his team in the lead Monday night.
After answering two questions - one about his interaction with an official and a second about the Hokies' strategy - Mack was asked a third, and he didn't appear to take kindly to it.
When asked what he had seen that was working for the Hokies late in the half when they went on a run and cut into Louisville's lead, Mack had a different reaction.
"Well, they're one of the top teams in the country," Mack responded, then shrugged and walked to the locker room.
The fallout was not favorable, as he drew comparisons to the often-terse (but also insightful) Gregg Popovich, longtime coach of the San Antonio Spurs.
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Mack responded to the whole dust-up Tuesday afternoon.
“We all make mistakes. I could’ve handled it better," Mack told Courier Journal reporter Danielle Lerner. "I did the best I could and apologized to her on air right after the game, but I don’t think ESPN showed that interview.
“I think all this senseless commentary is sort of for the birds. I won’t lose sleep over people not liking me. It’s on to the next crisis in the world. I did the best I could and I apologized.
“I’m human and I make mistakes, but I take ownership of it. They want to pile on, I’m good. Like I said, I won’t lose sleep over people who don’t like me.”
Williams put the issue to rest, too, and confirmed that Mack apologized.
Meanwhile, Louisville went on to upset Virginia Tech, 72-64 and Mack made an even stronger case for ACC coach of the year honors.