The Big 12 conference handed down suspensions to multiple players following the brawl that concluded the Kansas-Kansas State college basketball game on Tuesday. Among the players punished was Silvio De Sousa who was one of the instigators in the brawl. He received a 12-game suspension for throwing punches and attempting to use a stool as a weapon before it was taken away from him by Jayhawks’ assistant coach Jerrance Howard.
“There is no excuse for my behavior, and I cannot justify the unreasonable choices that I made yesterday on the court,” De Sousa said in his statement. “I not only showed a lack of sportsmanship, but I put myself, my teammates and the fans in danger.
“I am truly embarrassed by my actions and have let everyone down who has supported me on my basketball journey. There is no amount of regret that I can express that will correct this mistake. I understand that I am extremely fortunate to have been given the opportunity to play for KU and I recognize that I never should have let my emotions get the best of me, but unfortunately that is what happened. By doing so, I put the Kansas reputation at stake because of a moment of weakness and inconsideration. I messed up and I am sorry.”
David McCormack of Kansas was handed a two-game suspension. Wildcats forward James Love was suspended for eight games and his teammate Antonio Gordon will miss the next three.
“This kind of behavior cannot be tolerated and these suspensions reflect the severity of last evening’s events,” Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. “I am appreciative of the cooperation of both institutions in resolving this matter.”
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Kansas coach Bill Self told ESPN Tuesday, “Like I said last night, I am disappointed and embarrassed by what transpired because there is no place for that type of behavior in any competition,” Self said in a prepared statement. “After meeting with my team and discussing the incident in detail, it is evident that everyone fully understands the magnitude of their actions and all are remorseful for what occurred. We represent the University of Kansas and will all learn from this experience moving forward.”
