Following the headline-grabbing brawl that ended Tuesdayās men's basketball game between Kansas and Kansas State, the Big 12 Conference announced suspensions for multiple players on both teams.
Two players from each team were suspended for varying numbers of games. Kansasā Silvio De Sousa, who blocked DaJuan Gordonās last-second shot and stared him down to ignite the incident, was suspended for a total of 12 games by the Big 12. In the brawl that ensued, De Sousa was caught on video hoisting a stool above his head before having it snatched away from him by an assistant coach.
Related: KU-K-State Game Marred by Bench-Clearing Brawl
āChancellor Girod, [KU athletic director] Jeff Long and I fully support the decision by the Big 12 Conference and appreciate their commitment to working through this situation with us,ā KU coach Bill Self said in a statement on Wednesday. āI am disappointed and embarrassed by what transpired because there is no place for that type of behavior in any competition.ā
In addition, Kansasā David McCormack was hit with a two game suspension. K-Stateās James Love was suspended for eight games, while Antonio Gordon will sit out three.
"I'm extremely disappointed in our team's actions in the aftermath of last night's game at Kansas," K-State coach Bruce Weber said in a statement. "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.ā
āThis kind of behavior cannot be tolerated and these suspensions reflect the severity of last nightās events,ā said Big 12 Conference commissioner Bob Bowlsby in a statement announcing the suspensions. āI am appreciative of the cooperation of both institutions in resolving this matter.ā
Both programs were also formally reprimanded by the conference for violating sportsmanship policies.
KU and K-State are slated to meet again this season in Manhattan, Kan., on Feb. 29.