"You’ve got to be better": Shannon Sharpe takes a dig at LSU HC Kim Mulkey for stance on South Carolina-LSU clash

Kim Mulkey received backlash from Shannon Sharpe following her comments after the South Carolina-LSU clash.

The Gamecocks improved to 33-0 as they defeated the Tigers, 79-72, in the SEC Tournament. The result was marred by an incident in the fourth quarter, where LSU's Flau'jae Johnson fouled South Carolina's MiLaysia Fulwiley and bumped into Ashlyn Watkins. Gamecocks forward Kamilla Cardoso retaliated by pushing Johnson to the floor, sparking a brawl.

While South Carolina coach Dawn Staley apologized for her team's role in the incident, LSU coach Kim Mulkey suggested that Cardoso should have taken on someone her own size, like Anges Reese, instead of the much smaller Johnson

Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe did not like the way Mulkey handled the situation.

"You mean it figuratively, not literally. ‘Oh, we’re gonna fight. We’re gonna fight them tooth and nail. We’re gonna scratch and claw. You give nothing, you allow them to take nothing,’" Sharpe said on First Take.

"But Kim Mulkey, instead of saying, ‘You know what, sometimes when emotion is high, logic is low. And that’s not what women’s college basketball is about.' But for you to take that stance: ‘I wish Cardoso could’ve pushed Angel Reese.’ … Really?

"Is that what you want? You want the women’s game to be marred by a fight? C’mon Kim Mulkey. You’ve got to be better. And we’ve got to start doing a better job of holding Kim Mulkey accountable and responsible for some of her comments. We let that stuff slide because she’s a national champion. I refuse to do that. I believe she was wrong in this instance and Dawn Staley showed the utmost class and respect, not only for the game, but for her team and the opposing team."

What did LSU coach Kim Mulkey say?

After the game, Kim Mulkey told the media:

"No one wants to be a part of that. No one wants to see that ugliness. But I can tell you this. I wish she would have pushed Angel Reese. Don’t push a kid. You’re 6-8, don’t push somebody that little," Mulkey said via ESPN.

"That was uncalled for in my opinion. Let those two girls that were jawing, let them go at it.”