Drca Suspended One Game for Throwing Elbow
Utah's Luka Drca has been suspended for one game for hitting TCU's Brent Hackett with an elbow during the Utes' victory over the Horned Frogs at the Huntsman Center last weekend.
Drca will not make the trip when the Utes visit Colorado State in Fort Collins on Saturday.
"I feel bad," Drca said. "It's a bad time, but I messed up."
The Mountain West Conference issued the suspension today, saying Drca's elbow at the 11:05 mark of the first half fell under the definition of "physical abuse" and violated the league's sportsmanship policy. Drca hit Hackett in the chest area but was not called for a foul on the play, which left Hackett rolling on the floor in pain as the teams ran downcourt after Hackett missed a jump shot.
"It was an emotional thing, I guess," Drca said.
Coach Jim Boylen said he was "disappointed" in the timing, having learned only on Tuesday that the league was reviewing the incident. "But I understand the rules and we have to follow them," he said. "I didn't think it was a flagrant foul. I thought it was a reaction to an earlier hit in the same play. But we have to be accountable for our actions."
Sources have told me that the incident was "brought to the attention" of the league after the game, leading to the suspension, though I don't know whether the Frogs complained directly or benefitted from somebody doing so on their behalf. Also, Hackett supposedly acknowledged to TCU coach Neil Dougherty that he had instigated an exchange with Drca, seemingly supporting Boylen's view of the incident.
In any case, losing Drca obviously hurts an already thin Utah bench. The Utes will have to rely on guards Tyler Kepkay and Johnnie Bryant to run the show by themselves.
Drca will not make the trip when the Utes visit Colorado State in Fort Collins on Saturday.
"I feel bad," Drca said. "It's a bad time, but I messed up."
The Mountain West Conference issued the suspension today, saying Drca's elbow at the 11:05 mark of the first half fell under the definition of "physical abuse" and violated the league's sportsmanship policy. Drca hit Hackett in the chest area but was not called for a foul on the play, which left Hackett rolling on the floor in pain as the teams ran downcourt after Hackett missed a jump shot.
"It was an emotional thing, I guess," Drca said.
Coach Jim Boylen said he was "disappointed" in the timing, having learned only on Tuesday that the league was reviewing the incident. "But I understand the rules and we have to follow them," he said. "I didn't think it was a flagrant foul. I thought it was a reaction to an earlier hit in the same play. But we have to be accountable for our actions."
Sources have told me that the incident was "brought to the attention" of the league after the game, leading to the suspension, though I don't know whether the Frogs complained directly or benefitted from somebody doing so on their behalf. Also, Hackett supposedly acknowledged to TCU coach Neil Dougherty that he had instigated an exchange with Drca, seemingly supporting Boylen's view of the incident.
In any case, losing Drca obviously hurts an already thin Utah bench. The Utes will have to rely on guards Tyler Kepkay and Johnnie Bryant to run the show by themselves.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 3:08 PM |
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