Mississippi State guard Nick Weatherspoon suffered a scary injury on Friday, and people were not happy with how the SEC and their referees handled it.
Early in the second half of Mississippi State’s SEC Tournament game against Tennessee, Weatherspoon fell awkwardly on a layup attempt and appeared to injure his hip. Play continued however as Weatherspoon lay under the basket, and he got stomped on in the head/neck area by an opposing player jumping at full speed on the ensuing possession.
Miss St guard Nick Weatherspoon went down hard, remained on the ground and then was hit by players when the play came back down the court… pic.twitter.com/J5u9Wqvigl
— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) March 10, 2018
Here is another angle:
Oh my, that’s a horrible accident. Weatherspoon takes a shot to the head after falling awkwardly on his hip. #Vols #HailState #SECTourney pic.twitter.com/IyZ45GGuJ4
— Trey Wallace (@TreyW_SEC) March 10, 2018
Weatherspoon had to be stretchered off the court and was taken to a local hospital. Mississippi State did give a positive update about his status though.
Nick Weatherspoon is communicating well and has movement everywhere. He’s really sore and undergoing a cat scan now. #HailState #prayers
— MSU Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) March 10, 2018
Many were upset with the SEC and their officials for not recognizing that Weatherspoon was injured and stopping play immediately.
3 point loss. Makes you wonder what it would be if the refs didn't let Nick Weatherspoon get his head stomped in. The Southeastern Conference should be ashamed of itself.
— John Cohen Thoughts (@TheCohenFactor) March 10, 2018
I might hate Institution 10 with every fiber of my being, but that injury to Nick Weatherspoon never should have happened. It was preventable if the stupid @SEC refs actually did their job on the court. Poor kid didn't deserve that. Prayers for a quick recovery.
— Tim Bumpus. 31-28. (@timbump67) March 10, 2018
Those @SEC officials are 100% liable for Nick Weatherspoon’s injuries. They should all be fired tonight.
— Leroy Jenkins (@MagnoliaLedger1) March 10, 2018
Just got to Arkansas & saw the Nick Weatherspoon injury. It was awful & the play should have been stopped. Refs aren’t supposed to blow a play dead unless there is a serious threat to player safety. If the refs can’t figure out that’s a serious threat, then they’re a lost cause.
— Justin M. Strawn (@Justin_M_Strawn) March 10, 2018
The @SEC has to acknowledge the failure of the referees to protect Nick Weatherspoon tonight. Unacceptable. https://t.co/zsnQhVo14d
— Brandon (@gerhart__b) March 10, 2018
If there’s anything that needs to be taken away from the Nick Weatherspoon incident, is that SEC refs are incompetent and are not qualified to properly officiate.
— Riley Carlton (@rileyblackwell9) March 10, 2018
In the hours that followed, the SEC released a statement on the incident.
“The SEC expresses its sincere concern for Nick Weatherspoon and his family and prays for a full and rapid recovery,” the statement read.
“‘The play on which Nick Weatherspoon was injured unfolded in a rapid sequence of events that led to the continuation of play after Nick initially fell under the Mississippi State basket,’ said Mark Whitehead, SEC Coordinator of Officials. ‘The officials did not recognize Nick was injured until after the transition that led to the completion of the play where, unfortunately, he remained on the floor.’
“The SEC appreciates the quick response of the sports medicine staff and EMS personnel,” they concluded.
Tennessee would go on to win the game in a 62-59 thriller, but the rest of the tournament will likely be marred by Weatherspoon’s injury and questions about how it could have been handled better, if not prevented altogether.
