Updated story at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 22: The Big 12 Conference handed down official punishments Wednesday evening, suspending two Kansas players and two Kansas State players.
Kansas sophomore forward Silvio De Sousa, who was also at the center of the KU pay-for-play scandal, was dealt the most severe punishment, facing a 12-game suspension.
De Sousa issued a public apology on Twitter Wednesday afternoon.
“I displayed highly unacceptable behavior,” De Sousa wrote. “There is no excuse for my behavior, and I cannot justify the unreasonable choices that I made yesterday on the court.”
I’m sorry for my actions last night, please read this: pic.twitter.com/cmkEO0I5Ax
— Silvio De Sousa ™ (@SilvioDeSousa5) January 23, 2020
Kansas freshman forward David McCormack faces a two-game suspension.
K-State players were handed a smaller punishment, the heaviest of which falling on the shoulders of redshirt junior forward James Love III who will be suspended for eight games. Love has seen only two minutes of play so far this season.
Freshman forward Antonio Gordon will sit out three games. In his freshman season, Gordon has played a big role on the court for K-State. He totals more than 300 minutes of play and averages five points a game.
The Big 12 also said both teams will be further “reprimanded for violations of the Big 12 Sportsmanship Policies”
“This kind of behavior cannot be tolerated and these suspensions reflect the severity of last evening’s events,” commissioner Bob Bowlsby said. “I am appreciative of the cooperation of both institutions in resolving this matter.”
In a statement made to K-State Sports later on in the evening, K-State athletics director Gene Taylor weighed in as well.
“There is no place for this type of conduct in the game of basketball, or any sport, and in particular this great rivalry,” Taylor said.
Head coach Bruce Weber touched on plans moving forward with the consequences from the Big 12 in mind.
“I’m extremely disappointed in our team’s actions in the aftermath of last night’s game at Kansas,” Weber said. “They do not reflect what our program is about here at K-State. Our team will live with the consequences of those actions and move forward in a positive manner. Our focus going forward is to help our players learn from this situation and ensure that it never happens again.”
Original story: Sophomore forward Silvio De Sousa reportedly faces indefinite suspension after last night’s brawl on the court in Allen Fieldhouse, according to the Wichita Eagle.
In Tuesday night’s Sunflower Showdown in Lawrence, punches were thrown and stools were almost used as weapons.
In a statement Wednesday, Kansas head coach Bill Self said, “I have suspended Silvio De Sousa indefinitely pending the final outcome of the review by KU and the Big 12 Conference. As a I said last night, we are disappointed in his actions and there is no place in the game for that behavior.”
K-State Athletics could not be reached for a comment at this time.
This is a developing story, the Collegian will provide updates as they become available.
