LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart apologized to the University of Florida for the behavior of some Wildcats fans during a game against the Gators.

Barnhart wrote a letter to Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley on Monday, saying the school did not condone the behavior.

During Kentucky’s 82-62 win Sunday at Rupp Arena, some fans taunted Florida forward Matt Walsh.

“We want our athletic department in general to be a first-class athletic department and represent the university in a first-class way,” Barnhart said Wednesday from Atlanta, where he was attending a meeting of Southeastern Conference athletic directors before the SEC tournament.

“There are issues around college athletics, and certainly this is a topic of conversation in a lot of places. It came up in our athletic directors’ meeting today. There are no real answers out there, but it’s something our conference is trying to get its arm around.”

Athletic department spokesman Scott Stricklin said the letter wasn’t meant to be made public.

“It wasn’t a p.r. thing,” Stricklin said. “It was a legitimate letter to Florida.”

Stricklin said Florida coach Billy Donovan called Barnhart on Wednesday and thanked him for the letter.

AP-ES-03-10-04 1917EST