Bucher plays the ‘Mormon’ card.

ESPN NBA analyst Ric Bucher has not endeared himself to Utah Jazz fans.

Bucher, on Colin Cowherd‘s ESPN Radio show Wednesday, had some controversial words for why the Jazz have such a home court advantage.

“Let’s be honest. They’re Mormon. And they’re in Salt Lake. And there’s nothing else there. … You’ve got to smile and be happy all the time. This might be one opportunity for fans to get vicious.”

There is no word on whether Bucher will face any discipline for his comments, though it is telling that he will not be participating in any NBA Playoff broadcasts this weekend. Bucher worked as a sideline reporter for several NBA games this year. The fact that he will not be working playoff games this weekend, and Holly Rowe, who has not done a single NBA broadcast this year, will seems to indicate that he may have received some punishment.

Bucher did apologize for his comments, saying in part, “I knew immediately that I had made an inappropriate connection between Mormons and the harsh reception that opposing teams sometimes experience inside EnergySolutions Arena.”