Kansas-Kansas State Basketball Brawl Had A Lot Of Extras Action

By Tony Mangia

A frightening basketball brawl broke out near the end of No. 3 Kansas'  81-59 victory vs. Kansas State at Phog Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday night. In what looked like some wild-west fight scene out of a movie, dozens of players, coaches and a whole cast of extras, excuse me, background actors, got caught up in the crazy melee on the court and in the stands.

All that was missing were cowboy hats and swinging saloon doors.

The fracas started after Kansas' Silvio De Sousa swatted DaJuan Gordon on a breakaway as time expired. After the play, De Sousa stood over Gordon and when Kansas State's Cartier Diarra approached De Sousa, the rumble was on. 

Besides the principal players, the action includes a curious mix of casting call fill-ins unsuspectingly making the scene seem like an almost surreal, stage-blocked film shot. 

Props department, make sure a metal stool is positioned so that De Sousa can grab it and cock it back above his head and start the scene.

Rolling ... background ... action!

An all-out brawl just happened. pic.twitter.com/73MBmr0RNf

— Riley Gates (@Riley_Gates) January 22, 2020

First, and out of nowhere, there was some dude in white skinny jeans getting involved and setting off a mad rush by players from both teams towards K-State's side of the court. The fight spilled into the stands and disabled section as players from both benches tussled and punches were thrown. 

Benches emptied at the end of the Kansas State-Kansas game. pic.twitter.com/zWv46h3RJC

— ESPN (@espn) January 22, 2020

Then, after Skinny Jeans Guy, a whole cast of odd background characters gets caught in the frenzy.

Terrified Girl was the first.

Cue the Male Cheerleader actually holding back A Stunned Cop.

And Guy in Yellow Security Shirt got some prime face time.

Finally, if that wasn't enough, Where's Waldo was even spotted in the scene.

De Sousa was given an unsporting technical foul and a future suspension seems inevitable. All players who left the bench were ejected and could face further penalties as well. 

The two schools will be featured together again Feb. 29 in Manhattan, Kansas.

And the extras ... well, they got their big screen breaks.

Oakland University unveils blacktop inspired basketball court (PHOTO)

Street ball is where most college basketball players get their start so it seemed only logical for the Oakland University athletic department to bring back that "blacktop" look on its home court. 

Instead of the traditional asphalt found on streets and playgrounds across the country, the Rochester, Michigan school simply painted its court black.

The NCAA reportedly put the kibosh on chain link nets but, maybe they could use park benches on the Golden Grizzlies sidelines.

The black top is getting the finishing touches. Wanted chain link nets but NCAA said no, maybe a black rim 😃 pic.twitter.com/wVKgQLjGP4
— Greg Kampe (@KampeOU) April 7, 2015

Just wondering if the "no blood, no foul" rules will apply?

Top-ranked shooting guard Isaiah Whitehead picks Seton Hall over St. John’s, Pitt and Indiana

Isaiah Whitehead has decided to play in the Big East but it won't be for St. John's.

The Lincoln High School (Brooklyn) star announced Thursday afternoon that he will attend Seton Hall University. Coincidentally, the announcement just happened to come on Talk Like a Pirate Day.

On Tuesday, Whitehead revealed that he had narrowed his list of potential schools to five: St. John’s, Seton Hall, Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Indiana. He visited the St. John’s Queens campus on Wednesday. 

Seton Hall and St. John's had been running neck-and-neck for the prized recruit. But the senior surprised everyone by picking the smaller South Orange, New Jersey school over the other high-profile basketball programs.

The top-ranked shooting guard in the country according to ESPN and a top-15 player in both Scout’s and Rivals’ rankings, Whitehead averaged 21.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Railsplitters as a junior. Lincoln won the New York PSAL ‘AA’ championship with the 6-4 guard leading the way last season.

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay basketball coach accused of player abuse

In the wake of Mike Rice's firing for his sadistic Rutgers basketball practices, another college hoops coach is under fire for reportedly abusing his players during workout drills.

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay coach Brian Wardle is facing ugly accusations about his practices after two former players came forward with lurid details of Wardle's unethical treatment of themselves during UWGB practices.

And these complaints make Rice's tantrums sound downright tame.

Walk-on Ryan Bross and Brennan Cougill told the Green Bay Press Gazette that Wardle called him homophobic slurs and encouraged him to violate his religious beliefs by having sex with a girl in order to improve his play.

Bross also insisted that Wardle ignored Bross’ requests to step out of a “boot camp” drill when he felt sick. Bross eventually lost control of his bowels while running hills.

“Coach Wardle told me to stop being a p---- and to go into the woods,” Bross told the Press Gazette. “I came back and he was like, ‘Are you all done? Are you OK? Are you done being a p---- now, Ryan?’ Because they thought I was faking it, but I wasn’t. So I kept running the hills. I finished one hill. I came back down, and I told them I was not feeling well again, and (Wardle) made me run another hill again because he told me that I was being a baby.”

Cougill’s mother provided a letter to the paper in which she accused the coach of minimizing her son’s clinical depression as a “distraction.”

The school has launched an investigation that is being led by attorney Joseph Nicks and a couple of UWGB players have refuted Bross' claims.

Wardle, 33, denied the claims in a statement.

“I can assure you the well-being of my players is foremost in my mind at all times,” said Wardle, whose teams are 47-49 in three seasons. “I cannot comment on the specific allegations under federal privacy laws. I can say the version of events (the Press Gazette is) reporting is inaccurate.”

Rutgers fired Rice in April after ESPN aired videotapes of the coach using homophobic slurs and throwing balls at players’ heads, a scandal that also cost AD Tim Pernetti and assistant coach Jimmy Martelli their jobs.

Kevin Ware presents Top 10 List on the Late Show

Kevin Ware seems to be taking this snapped tibia thing a whole lot better than most people who had their Final Four dreams shattered along with such a gruesome injury.

The University of Louisville guard has been all over the television screen ever since he had his broken leg surgically-repaired last weekend and even appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman last night to present the Top 10 List for: "Thoughts going through Kevin Ware's mind at the moment of his broken leg."

It might seem to be just a tad morbid (too soon?) but the Cardinals player was in good spirits when he did the interview from his Atlanta location.

Ware started with No. 10: "What was that cracking sound?" and ended with "At least my bracket's not busted" as No. 1.

Kind of dark, but still pretty funny.




On a more serious note, Ware said the first real thought he had when he broke his leg was about getting in touch with his mother.

See the full Top 10 List below:

10. What was that loud cracking sound?

9. I hope this doesn't leave a bruise.

8. Hey, look—my tibia!

7. Ouch.

6. Did it go in?

5. Oh, boy… hospital food!

4. Tape it up, coach, I'm staying in.

3. They fired Leno?

2. Heat, then ice, or ice, then heat?

1. At least my bracket's not busted.

Departing Big East football teams have reportedly chosen a new red, white & blue conference name

I guess $100 million can buy you a new football league, but it still can't get you a good conference name.

It looks like the football schools that used to be part of the Big East are leaning towards the generic-sounding "America 12 Conference" as their new name, according to ESPN's Brett McMurphy.

You can't get any more Wonder bread and mayonnaise than that.  It sounds like a real estate company.

Not the official logo

While the "Catholic 7" take their $10 million settlement and the Big East name for its own basketball conference, the remaining football schools could be stuck with that mid-level-sounding name.

The name makes sense because the football schools are spread all over the country, but couldn't a $100 million budget come up with something with a little more marketing zing.

"America 12 Conference" favorite to become new name for Big East, league sources told @espn. Not official; other names being considered
— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) March 7, 2013

McMurphy reported that the new conference also registered the domain name AmericaOne.org — so that's a step up.

I kind of like the Catholic 7 Conference name. Maybe that group can sell the Big East name back to the Am-12 and become the Cat-7 for let's say $100 million plus punitive damages.

Coach K stops students from rushing court after beating UNC

Duke beat North Carolina last night and, as the Cameron Crazies were ready to storm the court after another round of their interstate rivalry ticked down to 0.0, one man stopped them in their tracks.

In stepped the Blue Devils' head coach Mike Krzyzewski who, with the waving of his arms, stopped the frothing fans from flooding the floor.

After all, No. 2 Duke had just defeated a watered-down unranked Tar Heels team by five points.  Not exactly a victory for the trophy case — even on Tobacco Road.

What's amazing is that when Coach K signalled for the students to retreat back into the stands, they did just that.

Not a single Crazy challenged their fearless leader.  Now that's power.

St. Joe's Langston Galloway loses tooth but helps team win game

Langston Galloway might have lost a tooth but he wasn't going to lose control of the game against Notre Dame in the Coaches vs. Cancer semifinal at the Barclays Center Friday night.

Shortly after his tooth went flying from his mouth — when he crashed to the hardwood battling for a loose ball with 4 minutes and 25 seconds remaining— the  St. Joseph's captain returned to the game and scored the final eight points in regulation to force overtime, leading the Hawks to a 79-70 upset victory over the Irish.

After the game, the Junior guard said they tried to put the tooth back in but it was too painful.  At the same time, the thought of losing was more pain agonizing than any pain a sideline dentist could inflict, so Galloway quickly went back into the game — with one less pearly white.

"I just wanted to win," the fang-less Galloway explained.

Galloway's grit helped St. Joe's earn a berth in Saturday's final against Florida State.

After the game, Galloway didn't want to show the media his wayward tooth.  He'll probably be smiling if the Hawks win the title game Saturday night.

Lance Thomas lawsuit raises questions with Duke basketball

Former Duke forward Lance Thomas is being sued for the remaining balance of a nearly $100,000 jewelry bill from 2009 — bringing into the mix potential NCAA violations for the Blue Devils basketball program.

The pristine image of Duke basketball program has now come into question and its 2010 national title could be be in jeopardy, as well.

Thomas — a former New Jersey basketball standout at powerhouse St. Benedict's Prep — is being sued for the remaining balance of a $97,800 jewelery tab from a well-known New York company in Dec. 2009, according to reports.  The case was filed in Dallas in January, but wasn't made public.

The company, Rafaello and Co., is popular for its exquisite bling and is known to cater to professional athletes and celebrities.  The Manhattan Diamond District company promotes itself as a "deluxe" jeweler.

Thomas reportedly made a $30,000 down payment for a black diamond necklace, a pair of diamond studs, a diamond-encrusted watch, a diamond cross, and a black diamond pendant in the shape of jesus' head.  According to the purchase order, the ballplayer agreed to pay back at least 25 percent of the price and the rest in 15 days.

The problem for Duke is whether the purchase violates NCAA rules — an infraction that could endanger the Blue Devils 2010 title.  The Associated Press reported that there was an agreement between Thomas and the jeweler giving him credit to pay back the balance but didn't specify where the money would come from.

NCAA spokesperson Stacey Osburn said they are speaking with Duke about the situation.

NCAA rules prohibit college athletes accepting benefits that are not available to all students.  Osburn said a violation basically comes down to whether "the general student body, or someone similarly situated, would be able to get the same benefit or treatment."

The company's attorney, Mike Bowers,  said the company does not know how Thomas made the initial payment and claims there is no evidence showing anyone other than Thomas was involved in the transaction.

Thomas appeared in 39 games for Duke during its 2009-2010 championship season — including the Blue Devils' 61-59 victory over Butler for the national title.

The undrafted Thomas played with the New Orleans Hornets last season and made $305,551.

Ref gets hit in the shnozz then lands on pom-poms

During Kentucky's rout of Georgia last night at Rupp Arena, a Bulldogs' errant pass was kicked squarely into the face of referee Antonio Payne who staggered back and fell but was lucky enough to land in a cushy pile of Wildcats cheerleaders and their pom-poms.

The wayward pass— which was accidently kicked out of bounds by a Kentucky player— seemed like one of many Georgia mistakes as top-ranked Kentucky steamrolled the Bulldogs, 79-49, to back up their No. 1 ranking.

While the Bullgogs were hitting the ref in the sniffer, Kentucky players hit 15 three-point shots.

The referee was fine— maybe too fine.

St. John's 2011-12 Recruiting Class Takes Hit; Sampson, Garrett & Pelle Ineligible

St. John's University's Top-3 nationally-ranked basketball class just got knocked down a few spots.  Incoming 2011-12 recruits JaKarr Sampson, Norvel Pelle and Amir Garrett have yet to be approved by the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse and will not be eligible to play during the fall semester.

Head coach Steve Lavin announced Thursday that the three student-athletes-- one-third of his lauded nine top freshmen recruits-- are unable to qualify for the 2011 fall semester.

They won't be enrolled for this semester and remain "under review" by the NCAA committee.  They were expected to have received clearance by the NCAA by this time.

The university is in its third week of classes and will work with the NCAA to review the three cases for possible enrollment in spring 2012.

Lavin said, "We are hopeful Amir, Norvell and JaKarr will be able to join us on the court this winter and in the classroom when the spring 2012 semester begins."

All three are consulting with their families and reviewing their options.  There is a good chance they could still be approved and be on the court in late December after the fall semester ends.  The team would have played 10 games by then.

These aren't just any incoming freshmen.

Garrett is from California but played for Findlay prep in Henderson, Nev..  The 6-foot-6, 190 pound offensive threat was rated as high as the 68th best over-all player in the country and  the #15 power-forward.  The left-handed pitcher was the 22nd-round  pick of the Cincinnati Reds and signed a minor league contract in the off-season.

Pelle was a standout power-forward from Los Angeles and he was rated the #2 center in the country.  The 6-foot-10, 200 pounder is a shot-blocking machine.

Sampson is a 6-8 swingman who starred in Akron at St. Vincent's-St. Mary's--  LeBron James high school-- before transferring. He was rated as high as the #11 combo-forward in the country.

Lavin will begin his second year with the Red Storm after rejuvenating the sinking program last season.  After taking the team to its first NCAA tournament since 2002, he announced he was battling prostate cancer.

Wisconsin-GB Basketball Walk-on Shows Us What's Right About Sports

Who says hard work doesn't pay off?  For Wisconsin-Green Bay walk-on basketball player Eric Valentin, it meant getting the best news of his young lifetime.

On Tuesday, at a practice for The Phoenix basketball squad, coach Brian Wardle surprised his 5-foot-4 guard by offering him the team's last scholarship for the 2011-12 season.

It was an emotional moment for Valentin and a life long dream realized-- and it was all caught on video.

Valentin, who stands almost a full foot shorter than the average college basketball guard was rewarded by Wardle for the young man's "hard work and character," but not without some ribbing before he handed Valentin the official document. 

On the first day of his senior year, the coach singled out Valentin in front of the team and asked him "if he needed money or a job" because it seemed like his young charge was preoccupied during the practice.

It was then, Wardle said, "I found you a full-time job" and handed the scholarship papers to a unsuspecting Valentin.  The coach smiled and asked him, "Do you know what that is?"

As his teammates cheered, Valentin nodded his head and pulled his shirt up to shield his tearing eyes before he walked over and hugged his coach.

"It's a full-time scholarship, my man," said the coach.  "No one's earned it more than this guy right here."

The tiny guard with big ambitions walked up to Wardle last year, after transferring from a Florida community college, and said he wanted to play for his basketball team. 

Valentin, as a junior, only played in five games and averaged 1.2 points, but was a notable presence around the campus.


The Orlando native broke the Guinness World Record for most half-court shots made in a minute and was interviewed on ESPN, but the scholarship means more than the notoriety he gained for those moments.  For the ambitious Valentin, the full scholarship means validation for a job well done.

After all, he came off the bench to spark a win over Houston Baptist last season.

Valentin's feel-good story is a nice switch from the usual off-the-court antics which pass as sports news these days and, better yet, Valentin may not have to get that other job.

Polee To Leave St. John's; 2011-12 Team Has No Returning Starters

The youngest men's basketball team in St. John's University's history just got a little more youthful after sophomore forward Dwayne Polee II, the only returning starter from last year's NCAA Tournament team, decided to return to Los Angeles to be closer to his family.

This is the first stumbling block for Steve Lavin's Red Storm after a wild ride into the NCAA's and  completing the most highly-touted incoming class in the school's history.  It also takes away the team's most experienced player.

Family health issues are the reason for Polee's proposed transfer and apparently involve his mother.   Polee released a statement which read," Right now I feel it is best to be close to my family and help us get through a health issue."

 Polee, the 2010 Los Angeles High School Player of the Year, did not specify the illness or the seriousness of it.

No one could be more understanding about family illnesses than Lavin.  His father battled prostate cancer two decades ago and the head coach himself is currently going through a radical treatment to beat the same disease Lavin himself was diagnosed with at the beginning of last season.  He withheld his illness from the public until the season was over.

"Dwayne is an outstanding individual with a bright future," said Lavin.  "He has been a valued member of our basketball family.  He leaves St. John's University in good standing and we wish him well."

The loss of Polee, who started 27 0f 33 games last season,  leaves St. John's with one returning player, reserve-guard Malik Stith, and a lot of heralded, but green, college freshmen.

Lavin has his work cut out for 2011-12.  He brings in a nine-man recruiting class which is the #2 rated group by Rivals.com.  The head coach was counting on Polee to be the veteran leader and guiding force to one of the youngest men's NCAA basketball squads in over 100 years.  The transition of going from an experienced Big East team to a group of highly anticipated newbies just got harder without the stability of a Polee on the court.

The 6-foot-7 Polee could play next season if the NCAA regards his situation a hardship transfer.  If Polee doesn't sit out next year, he could possibly be going to San Diego State, UCLA or UC-Santa Barbara.  Polee originally planned on attending USC before their head coach Tim Floyd was replaced.