Curtis Kelly in trouble again; under scrunity for violation of K-State handbook

Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse for Kansas State, they did. Then they did again. And again. And before you knew what had happened, the 2010-2011 season had turned into a dumpster fire.

Having already lost Dominique Sutton (in the offseason), Freddy Asprilla, and Wally Judge to transfer, Kansas State's painfully thin front line appears as if it may get even thinner -- Curtis Kelly, the same Curtis Kelly who was suspended on two different occasions this year, is the subject of an investigation by the Kansas Athletic Department regarding a violation of the student-athlete code as defined by their handbook.

No one will go one record with what exactly Kelly did, but reading this excerpt from Kellis Robbinet's piece for the Wichita Eagle, it isn't difficult to figure out:

K-State officials refused to specify the nature of Kelly's violation, citing student privacy issues. But a source indicated Kelly is a repeat offender of the condition in question and that it has cost him playing time already this season.

According to K-State's student-athlete handbook, only one violation would fit those parameters — a violation of the student-athlete drug and alcohol policy.

[...]

After the first violation, a student-athlete must inform his or her family of the transgression in the presence of a coach and undergo counseling. A second violation results in a suspension for 10 percent of a team's games in the regular season (three for men’s basketball).

Kelly, who’s averaging 9.9 points, missed the first three games of the season for unspecified reasons that coach Frank Martin said at the time revolved around poor practice habits.

A third violation results in a permanent suspension from the team and the loss of all financial aid.

Kelly is appealing the ruling, and as of now it is unclear what, exactly, his status will be during that process. K-State director of media relations Kenny Lannou said "Curtis is still a member of our program," but for how long?

If Kelly is, in fact, done, it leaves just Jamar Samuels and Jordan Henriquez-Roberts along the Wildcat front line.

Could anyone have seen this mess coming?
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Curtis Kelly sheds some light on Freddy Asprilla's departure

This college basketball season has been anything but boring for the Kansas State Wildcats and the reporters that cover them.

There were the sky-high preseason expectations and the inability of this team to live up to those expectations. The suspensions of Curtis Kelly and Jacob Pullen. Wally Judge's three game hiatus. Its been a roller coaster.

The best part?

This team always seems to give the best quote. Whether its Jamar Samuels using the phrase "leadership thingy", Jacob Pullen declaring that he won't be playing in the NIT, or Frank Martin going, well, all Frank Martin in a press conference, this certainly is a colorful group.

The latest situation that has arisen is Freddy Asprilla's decision to leave the team prior to their game on Saturday against Texas Tech. Here are the statements from Martin and Asprilla's former AAU coach Art Alvarez:

"After discussions with Freddy, we have come to a mutual decision that we feel is in his best interest," Martin said. "I expect him to explore professional playing opportunities in his home country. We appreciate his efforts this season and wish him the best of luck in the future."
...
"Freddy Asprilla is turning pro to help his very ill mother," Alvarez said. "He is sacrificing his collegiate career to make money at the professional level."

That's a good reason to go pro, and we certainly wish Asprilla and his mother the best.

But is it that actually what happened?

"He's a great guy and he was a great player for us, but sometimes guys can't handle Frank," Kelly told Kellis Robbinet of the KC Star. "Guys can't handle the way he demands. He wants the best out of you, 100 percent every time. Even though you may not be able to give it to him every time he still wants you to try. Freddy failed at that unfortunately."

Kelly wasn't done.

"Practice was hell yesterday," Kelly told Austin Meek of the Topeka Capital-Journal. "I think that was just the start-up point, because (Martin) wanted to draw the line and see who was with us and who was not. Whoever stuck it out was going to be with us, and whoever didn't, he wasn't going to depend on no more. As you can see, Freddy's not with us no more."

I don't know what the truth is. Hell, I frankly couldn't care less.

What I do care about is that Martin doesn't start putting the clamps on his player's access to the media.

Because they certainly seem like a fun, honest group of kids.
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The suspension of Pullen and Kelly highlights a bigger issue

This post can also be found at Beyond the Arc.

Just minutes before the tip between Kansas State and UNLV at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, word came down that Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly were both to be suspended. Pullen got three games, including Tuesday night's tip, while the length of Kelly's suspension has yet to be determined. Its the second time this season that Kelly has been suspended from the team.

The cause of the suspension revolves around the purchase of clothing at a department store. Apparently, Pullen and Kelly received clothing at a discount price from a woman that works at the store.

"These young men have worked hard to represent themselves and Kansas State in a positive manner," KSU coach Frank Martin said in a brief statement. "Having said that, they made a mistake in judgment and have to pay a price."


Tonight it cost them. Kansas State lost 63-59 to the Rebels in a game where the Wildcats simply could never find any kind of rhythm on the offensive end of the floor. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that losing the best two offensive weapons on a team that doesn't have many of them could yield some ugly results.

And it did. K-State turned the ball over 22 times. They shot 3-12 from three and 14-26 from the line. The 40.4% they shot from the field is much better than one would assume they shot after watching that team try to execute in the half court. And despite all of that, the Wildcats only lost to a good UNLV team by four points.

That should give you an idea of the talent level of this Kansas State team.

The problem is leadership.

The problem is the example being set by the guys that are supposed to be leaders on this team.

"I don't want to hear anything else about leadership about anyone other than the guys on the basketball court," Martin said in a fiery press conference after the loss. "I do not want you to refer any questions again about anybody who was not dressed and in uniform here today."

"Until this team doesn't find that character and that leadership, we're going to continue to flounder around."

There is no way to sugarcoat it -- Pullen and Kelly knew what they were doing was wrong. Its not that they should have known better, its that they did know better and did not care. These players are schooled time and time again about the dangers of accepting gifts. They know how serious the NCAA takes this kind of thing, even if it was as innocent as a female cashier hooking up the two of them one time because she knew who they were and wanted them to like her.

Hey, I was once a broke college student myself. I certainly wouldn't have turned down an offer of a discount on anything, and I probably still wouldn't today. But I also didn't have a basketball scholarship and, potentially, a basketball career that could be put into jeopardy by accepting such an offer.

The lack of leadership was evident on the court the past two games. It was evident every time Pullen struggled to find an open look against Florida on Saturday. It was evident every time Martavious Irving or Nick Russell or Rodney McGruder dribbled into a turnover on Tuesday. It was evident when K-State had no one capable of stepping up and making a big shot.

Denis Clemente may not have been a more talented back court player than Pullen. But he was a better leader. A more natural point guard.

And if this season has proven anything, a more valuable piece to K-State last season than we originally thought.
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Pair of power forwards returns

In a day that is full of meaningful basketball, the most intriguing game of the day is the 9:30 pm tip between No. 3 Kansas State and No. 12 Gonzaga.

And thanks to Jeff Goodman's neverending string of sources, we now know that the matchup just got that much better.

Curtis Kelly was the leading scorer in the Wildcat's front court as a junior, averaging 11.5 ppg and 6.2 rpg. But he was suspended for the first three games of the season, likely the result of a perceived lack of dedication to the team. Kelly will be back in uniform tonight, and his presence will be welcomed with open arms by K-State. One of the biggest issues the Wildcat's have faced here early in the season is a lack of scoring in their front court.

Kelly isn't the only power forward returning to the line up tonight.

The rest of this post can be found at Beyond the Arc.

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