[h=1]Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy downplays Marshall Henderson's post-game antics at Auburn[/h]AUBURN, Alabama -- Ole Miss guard Marshall Henderson drew his fair share of ire from Auburn fans in Saturday night's win over the Tigers, pumping his fist after buckets and running over to taunt the student section after hitting a pair of game-winning free throws in overtime.
At the time, neither Henderson or Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy addressed Henderson's antics.
Kennedy had a chance to address the situation on the SEC teleconference on Monday.
"It was brought to my attention after the game. He did it really right in front of our radio people, so I had some boots on the ground, so to speak, that could tell me fact from fiction," Kennedy said. "There’s a lot of folk lore going around with Marshall. I would have preferred him not doing that, but, again, he’s caught up in the emotion of a highly charged game."
Henderson, who the Auburn students had been heckling since tip-off in a manner similar to other SEC stars, did not comment on his taunts after the game.
Auburn head coach Tony Barbee, for his part, didn't take any specific issue with Henderson's demeanor.
"Their team feeds off of his energy, and that's a good thing for their team," Barbee said. "You can't let your team be affected by it."
Kennedy went on to say that Henderson has to play on that edge to succeed after Henderson shot 4-of-15 on Saturday night and made 4-of-13 3-pointers in an off performance before hitting the final two free throws.
"I think he’s been readily open with the fact that if he didn’t play with that edge, he wouldn’t be a guy that could lead the SEC in scoring," Kennedy said. "As his coach, I’m probably more concerned with his shot selection than maybe him popping him shirt here and there."
