Cops in riot gear cuffed over a dozen people in post-Final Four mayhem in Lexington after a crowd of thousands took to the streets, torching couches and cars after the University of Kentucky defeated rival Louisville.
Police today said they are satisfied with their work to control crowds, despite dramatic video showing fans setting fires and flipping over a car.
The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that police had to dodge beer bottles while putting out dozens of fires in the streets.
Lexington police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts said there were less than 20 people arrested, no serious injuries and no serious property damage. She said nothing happened that wasn’t anticipated and that police were “very pleased.”
“I think we did pretty good, all things considered,” she said.
She said the department would meet this afternoon to evaluate things and determine whether any adjustments are needed Monday, when the Wildcats play in the championship.
Kentucky players and coach John Calipari expressed shock and disappointment over their fans’ actions.
“Our fans are real crazy about us. If we win tomorrow, it’ll be even more crazy,” said guard Doron Lamb.
Guard Darious Miller said it looked “pretty crazy” from the videos he got on his cell phone.
“I don’t know how to explain it,” he said. “Hopefully everyone makes it out OK.”
Coach John Calipari said he was disappointed to hear about the chaos in Lexington, and he had team spokesman DeWayne Peevey use Twitter to encourage fans to calm down. He said it might be that some fans just had too much to drink.
“The state of Kentucky is so connected to this program. It’s the commonwealth’s team. They go overboard sometimes,” he said.
Police had braced for the possibility of post-game violence and resorted to pepper spray, though large amounts weren’t needed before they ultimately began dispersing the throngs, Roberts said.
She said 150 officers deployed on the streets at one point to quell what she called “a very dangerous situation” with the fires and violence that dragged on for hours.
The scene was similar in 1998 when Kentucky won the national championship game. That year, 300 officers in full riot gear lined downtown streets as a mob of nearly 15,000 fans celebrated.
Police made 10 arrests, and 25 people were treated for minor injuries.
Two years prior to that, though, chaos ensued following Kentucky’s championship game — officers were pelted with beer bottles, and a television news crew’s van was overturned.