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.