The wild brawl that brought an ugly end to the Sunflower Showdown at Allen Fieldhouse Tuesday night, of course, drew the attention of the entire college basketball world.
While opinions varied on the fracas, which spewed off the actual court and into the seats behind the baseline, some renowned national analysts called for swift action and suspensions after KU forward Silvio De Sousa and Kansas State big man James Love were at the heart of a confrontation that cleared both benches.
KU head coach Bill Self, who called the incident embarrassing, said after the game he expected to announce punishments on Wednesday. While those haven’t been announced as of the morning, that didn’t stop some national college basketball media members from immediately speculating about what’s to come.
A couple of former Kansas players, Devonte’ Graham and Scot Pollard, also shared via Twitter their thoughts on how the rivalry game concluded.
Here are some of the many social media posts regarding the altercation.
KU I love it !!! Beat em down !!!!!! ???????????????????????????????????? our state !! Bums !!!
— Devonte Graham (@Devonte4Graham) January 22, 2020
We not going for that !!! ???? ROCK CHALKKKKK!!!!!!
— Devonte Graham (@Devonte4Graham) January 22, 2020
Got beat by 30 !!!! ???????????????? and wanna fight its ok take the L go back to manhattan ????????
— Devonte Graham (@Devonte4Graham) January 22, 2020
Lil brothers always wanna fight the big bros ???? iight I’m done! Love y’all goodnight ???? ????????????????
— Devonte Graham (@Devonte4Graham) January 22, 2020
Why would we be mad up 20 ? ???????????????????????????? stop it https://t.co/RIh0wdilkG
— Devonte Graham (@Devonte4Graham) January 22, 2020
How is it KU fault that bruh tried to steal the ball down 20 with 5 seconds left …………. you ppl kill me ????
— Devonte Graham (@Devonte4Graham) January 22, 2020
I’ll always love my Jayhawks but I’m pretty embarrassed of a few of them right now #KSUvsKU
— Scot Pollard (@ScotPollard31) January 22, 2020
I guess it just meant something when I wore that jersey. More than whatever stupid ego trip caused this. Game was over. We won. Now players will be punished/suspended. How could any KU fan not be embarrassed? We are KU. We are better than this. https://t.co/48pw478jqf
— Scot Pollard (@ScotPollard31) January 22, 2020
I was at the Malice in the Palace. It didn’t galvanize our team. We lost half to suspensions and barely made the playoffs and got bounced in the first round and the franchise took years to recover. Stupid take. https://t.co/1yGxYvNc5x
— Scot Pollard (@ScotPollard31) January 22, 2020
In my 40 yrs @espn the fight at the Kansas State & Kansas game was as bad as it gets. So sad & embarrassing for a program rich in tradition . The @Big12Conference MUST COME DOWN HEAVY ON THOSE heavily involved .
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) January 22, 2020
It was sickening & very fortunate that there were not some serious injuries . Those involved must be heavily penalized by the @Big12Conference https://t.co/sNrnsWJq4H
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) January 22, 2020
My full thoughts on @KUHoops and Silvio De Sousa.. let me provide context abt what I said this morning on @GetUpESPN pic.twitter.com/06lluIQItW
— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) January 22, 2020
This is a good point to be made. We can advocate for appropriate consequences and still have empathy. The world needs more empathy, especially when talking about young people. https://t.co/vtlYMHFYij
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) January 22, 2020
This is why standing over another player is immediately called a T pic.twitter.com/0KLfkG2OQU
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) January 22, 2020
The last brawl like this was the Crosstown Shootout in 2011. Here were the suspensions:
UC:
6 games – Yancy Gates, Cheikh Mboji, Octavius Ells
1 – Ge’Lawn GuynXavier:
4 – Dez Wells, Landon Amos
2 – Mark Lyons
1 – Tu Holloway— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) January 22, 2020
Folks who would have called the police or asked to speak with a manager if De Sousa had done that outside the arena now saying he wasn’t in the wrong. Lot of fake support that these young athletes better realize they’ll never get in the same situation once they’re done playing.
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) January 22, 2020
The game was over. The steal was unnecessary, standing over an opponent was unnecessary, the words and shoves were unnecessary. The ensuing brawl was ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. Each person involved (save for those attempting to break it up) knows better. Suspensions should follow. https://t.co/yiLMvheqhh
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) January 22, 2020
There were many actions that escalated this. However, there is no excuse for the ensuing fight. Punches thrown should lead to suspensions. Period. And, stop calling players “kids.” It infantilizes them. The NCAA calls it Men’s Basketball. They are adults. https://t.co/R4HD5BYZPs
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) January 22, 2020
Column: Silvio De Sousa wielding a stool as a weapon is the latest bad optics for Kansas and college basketball, neither of which can afford the credibility hits https://t.co/1tlMAOTgkV
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) January 22, 2020
Hoping it’s quick and swift today. No reason to drag this out. @Big12Conference and or both schools should make announcements before any practices this afternoon. https://t.co/gJ9SYKaO11
— Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) January 22, 2020
