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BLACKSBURG, Va.-- Virginia Tech suspended forward Deron Washington for one game Friday, one day after he appeared to drive his foot into the face of a Duke player when both were laying on the floor.
Washington, a starting forward and the Hokies' third-leading scorer with an 11-point average, will miss Saturday's game at Wake Forest.
He was ejected from Thursday night's 80-67 loss to No. 2 Duke for a flagrant foul, which came with 1:30 left after he was fouled by Lee Melchionni.
Washington said afterward that he kicked Melchionni unintentionally as he was trying to hurry to get back on his feet. He and coach Seth Greenberg went to Duke's locker room shortly after the game and apologized to Melchionni and coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Tech athletic director Jim Weaver imposed the suspension for "conduct detrimental to the sport of basketball."
"Jim Weaver and Seth Greenberg are to be commended for how they have addressed this issue," ACC commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. He said the conference would impose no additional punishment.
Greenberg said in a statement: "What Deron did last night was wrong and I cannot condone it. He called Washington's act "not a reflection of who he really is."
Virginia Tech's image has taken a beating nationally since the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2, when quarterback Marcus Vick was caught on tape stomping on the left calf of Louisville All-American Elvis Dumervil. Vick was kicked off the team Jan. 6 for the unsportsmanlike conduct as well as a succession of legal problems.
Detroit News/Associated Press
Washington, a starting forward and the Hokies' third-leading scorer with an 11-point average, will miss Saturday's game at Wake Forest.
He was ejected from Thursday night's 80-67 loss to No. 2 Duke for a flagrant foul, which came with 1:30 left after he was fouled by Lee Melchionni.
Washington said afterward that he kicked Melchionni unintentionally as he was trying to hurry to get back on his feet. He and coach Seth Greenberg went to Duke's locker room shortly after the game and apologized to Melchionni and coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Tech athletic director Jim Weaver imposed the suspension for "conduct detrimental to the sport of basketball."
"Jim Weaver and Seth Greenberg are to be commended for how they have addressed this issue," ACC commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. He said the conference would impose no additional punishment.
Greenberg said in a statement: "What Deron did last night was wrong and I cannot condone it. He called Washington's act "not a reflection of who he really is."
Virginia Tech's image has taken a beating nationally since the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2, when quarterback Marcus Vick was caught on tape stomping on the left calf of Louisville All-American Elvis Dumervil. Vick was kicked off the team Jan. 6 for the unsportsmanlike conduct as well as a succession of legal problems.
Detroit News/Associated Press
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