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Kansas State guard Denis Clemente has been suspended one game by KSU coach Frank Martin for Clemente's actions against Kansas in Saturday's game at Manhattan. Clemente will serve his suspension during tonight's home game against North Carolina Central.
“Denis is a very passionate and competitive young man who knows he made a mistake,” Martin said. “His actions on Saturday are not acceptable and he has to do a better job of maintaining his composure. Denis is the leader of this basketball team and we are 100-percent supportive of him during this time.”
Video replays showed Clemente struck KU's Tyrel Reed in the head while Reed was boxing him out after a free throw with 31 seconds left.
“I am very sorry for my actions on Saturday,” Clemente said. “I understand that I let my emotions get the best of me and, more importantly, I let my team down.”
According to a K-State release, "Clemente committed a fighting act as defined by Section 4 of the NCAA Basketball Rules and must serve a suspension for the next contest."
“The Conference accepts this action and I commend Coach Martin for taking the initiative and implementing action that demonstrates his continued commitment to conduct his program with sportsmanship," Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe said. “I also appreciate Mr. Clemente’s acknowledgement of his mistake.”
KU coach Bill Self commented on the suspension this afternoon: "Denis is a heck of a player. He played well against us in a hard-fought game. By no means did we pursue this situation at all."
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Comments
KUPROUD 4 years, 4 months ago
Good decision, but how timely is this game against the high school in North Carolina. Maybe Frank had it planned this way for months, have a blow-up in the KU game knowing that if a suspension follows it won't hurt the season. Of course, KSU better be ready for the fighting eagles tonight.
kingpin 4 years, 4 months ago
Job well done. Now we know why state scheduled North Carolina Central after KU.
stupidmichael 4 years, 4 months ago
Kudos to Martin... But one definitely has to wonder if this same suspension would have occurred if Kstate was playing a legitimate conference foe tonight.
zissou 4 years, 4 months ago
Martin's going to catch a lot of heat for suspending Clemente for a meaningless non-con instead of a conference game (as evidenced by the above comments) but he's following the letter of the law.
Any of you conspiracy theorists who think the NC Central game was scheduled for this purpose (give me a break) want to tell me Bill wouldn't do the same thing?
jco8394 4 years, 4 months ago
YEAHHHHHH BOYYYYY owning them in their own house! ------- http://www.news.ku.edu/2009/february/17/debatemanhattan.shtml
cshjhawk 4 years, 4 months ago
North Carolina Central University is a well respected historically Black college. Granted that it is not competitive at a high level in college b-ball, it is not by any means a high school!
Hays_Hawk 4 years, 4 months ago
Yeah, I'm glad the punk is suspended for at least one...but maybe two or at least a significant game would have sent a better message. Either way, I think it'll eat at him to have to watch it from the bench.
LAJayhawk 4 years, 4 months ago
It's the right move by Martin. Quick and decisive. He's just extraordinarily lucky with the timing. Would he make the same move if they were playing OU or mizzou? We'll never know, but this was the right move.
I am still confused, however, why the thrown elbow wasn't an ejectionable offense and a one game suspension on its own. Clearly it was a "fighting act" as defined by Section 4 done with malice and intent to harm. Is an elbow different than a fist? That is, of course, a rhetorical question as both can cause an equal amount of harm.
The intent was clear. He should have been thrown out.
rev79 4 years, 4 months ago
[yawns]
Hawksboy88 4 years, 4 months ago
he is still trash. but i have more respect for martin.
Jhawkerman 4 years, 4 months ago
Game won - Player punished ( level of punishment aside ) case closed. I think Martin is a good and fair coach but lets face it, if he had not acted the chances were the Big 12 would have suspended Clemete for one game and possible a later more important game.
JayCeph 4 years, 4 months ago
Does anyone else see anything confusing about this statement?:
In regard to the history of NCCU, "With nearly 9,000 students enrolled, the historically black university is diverse." (taken from http://www.nccu.edu/aboutnccu/index.cfm)
I don't understand this type of thing... the statement and the historical context. Just weird.
mvjayhawk 4 years, 4 months ago
too bad it wasn't for this Saturday, on the road in the league. but it is a suspension. He deserved it for sure.
can't wait for next year's game at Allen Fieldhouse.
cshjhawk 4 years, 4 months ago
JayCeph....It means that it had its origin as a historically Black college and that was a time when these institutions were the only place that they could attend university. Like many of these universities, they now have diverse student populations.
JayCeph 4 years, 4 months ago
Thnx, cshjhawk. That sums it up pretty well.
yates33333 4 years, 4 months ago
Poor K-State will have to play NCCU without Clemente. Rev79 says it all, "Yawn!" Hopefully, Clemente thinks this is punishment not just a day off.
bringheatwavewheat 4 years, 4 months ago
Big 12 said they were reviewing the incident. Martin is cutting them off at the pass before they have a chance to suspend DC for a meaningful conference game. No, this would not be happening if tonight's game was a Big 12 matchup. I think this is the right move by Martin...I think Clemente's techinal coupled with the head slap made it possibly that the conference would have forced his hand later this week.
RckChalkJeff 4 years, 4 months ago
wow...poor clemente. Should be banned from the next big 12 game....not this match up with North Carolina Central Community College for the Blind.
lance1jhawk 4 years, 4 months ago
This game should really help KSUck's RPI. Seriously why would you schedule this game? In thy used car salesman KSUck trusts.
Strikewso 4 years, 4 months ago
NCCU is known for the stripper scholar who took down the Duke lacrosse team!
kustrong 4 years, 4 months ago
Jaybate, where are you? Does anyone else think it is odd that Jaybate has not blogged in nearly a week? Something is not right. Hope all is well blogger buddy.
Coach Martin did the honorable thing. Who cares what game it is. I had wished that Coach Self would have benched M.C. Morris a game after the ref incident. Hope that doesn't upset too many people, but I believe in taking the higher road.
Rock Chalk
memhawk 4 years, 4 months ago
The Clemente name has been so iconic in the sports world until now. Is Roberto still with us or has he gone to the big dugout in the sky? What a great way to honor your name and your heritage!
kvskubball 4 years, 4 months ago
Roberto Clemente died in an airplane crash while doing humanitarian work in Central America. His 'second cousin' doesn't have anywhere near his class...
jayhawkintx73 4 years, 4 months ago
Bill wouldn't do the same thing. Ya see, we play Iowa State tomorrow. Not a nonconference nobody. Now do I believe Mizzou would do that? This might be the only time I have ever said this, at least Mizzou didn't throw cheap shots. K-State did.
ohioburg 4 years, 4 months ago
Bill sat Morris for half a game after bumping a ref. I think he'd sit a player after he threw two punches in the same game.
KUbsee69 4 years, 4 months ago
During a TV interview, shown in KC yesterday, Martin was asked why they had a non-conference game scheduled this late in the season. His somewhat sarcastic reply indicated that KSU didn't get any respect and therefore doesn't get to play on Mondays (Big Monday) so they have to take what they can get for Tuesday games.
memhawk 4 years, 4 months ago
Maybe they could schedule a non-con game against a non-NCAA team just for scrimage sake, if they're just looking for games. How about KSU vs. a Leavenworth team? Or, any other prison team where there would be similar types of aggressive natured players. This way there wouldn't be such a disparity of agendas amonst the teams. Then the fans could also be able to visit with their loved ones after the game. I think this could work!
cklarock 4 years, 4 months ago
Good job of damage control by Martin, but no way does he suspend Clemente if the smack on Reed doesn't make the sports news.
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