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A wild postgame brawl following a contentious game between Utah Valley and New Mexico State highlighted the risks when fans and players collide. Antti Raanta Blackhawks Jersey . The Western Athletic Conference suspended New Mexico State junior guard K.C. Ross-Miller for two games and senior forward Renaldo Dixon for one for violating the leagues sportsmanship policy following its review of the melee Thursday night in Orem, Utah. Ross-Miller hurled the ball at Utah Valleys Holton Hunsaker seconds after the Wolverines 66-61 victory over the Aggies. The ball hit Hunsaker -- the son of Utah Valley coach Dick Hunsaker -- in the leg. Some of the fans who stormed the court following the victory got caught up in the chaos and punches were thrown. New Mexico State guard DK Eldridge was in the middle of the scrum before he was dragged away by Aggies coaches as order was restored. With the victory, the Wolverines claimed the top spot in the conference standings -- their first year in the WAC. While the brawl was touched off by Ross-Millers actions, it sparked renewed debate about player and fan interactions, and the dangers posed when fans rush the court. It was one of several incidents involving fans and players or coaches in recent months. Oklahoma State All-America guard Marcus Smart charged into the stands at Texas Tech on Feb. 8 and shoved a fan who called him a "piece of crap." Smart was suspended for three games and the fan later apologized. Also in February, Oregon coach Dana Altman expressed concerns about safety after two of his staffers said an Arizona State student spit at them at halftime of a game in Tempe, Ariz. Ducks guard Jason Calliste had a verbal confrontation with at least one student late in the first half. The NCAA does not have national rules regarding fans rushing the court because conference offices oversee regular season rules in basketball, including discipline. The SEC does ban the practice, imposing a $5,000 fine on the school for the first offence, and as much as $50,000 for subsequent infractions. Reggie Minton, deputy executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, said his organization has discussed the issue in the past and it will be taken up again at meetings in April. "The main concern is for the safety of the visiting players and coaching staff. Rushing the court almost always comes after a key victory or upset by the home team and there are people rushing the court who may or may not understand what sportsmanship is about," Minton said. "We need to explore ways to eliminate the risk to the players, coaches and staff on the court," he added. "Every school should have a plan in place for end of game situations and make sure there is sufficient security and staff available to take control." The WAC issued its suspensions Friday after reviewing the brawl. "There obviously is no place in the Western Athletic Conference or intercollegiate athletics as a whole for the unfortunate events that took place at the conclusion of Thursday nights game," WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd said. Hurd also said in a statement that there would be further review of the safety issues involved, and he has additional games management information from Utah Valley. Hurd praised the coaches for both teams. "The situation could have been much worse if it had not been for outstanding effort of both the New Mexico State and Utah Valley coaching staffs," Hurd said. "They were instrumental in separating their student-athletes from what could have been an even uglier situation." Before the WAC weighed in on additional penalties, New Mexico State coach Marvin Menzies suspended Ross-Miller indefinitely pending the WACs decision. The junior starter averages 8.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists. "No matter what provoked K.C. what he did was inexcusable and hence the suspension. It is an honour and a privilege to wear an Aggie uniform and a responsibility comes with that privilege," Menzies said in a statement Friday. The game between the WAC co-leaders at the UCCU centre was attended by a season-high 4,954 fans. Ross-Miller issued a statement apologizing for his actions. "I have way more respect for the university, my teammates and coaches to retaliate in such a terrible way," he said. "I know better to let my opponents and emotions get the best of me and I regret doing what I did, not only because it was stupid and selfish, but because of the situation that I have created for my team, coaches and the university. The Wolverines issued a brief statement via Twitter: "The incident following Thursdays game was an unfortunate and sour endnote to an otherwise brilliant performance by both teams." The team referred all further inquiries to the WAC. Utah Valley (17-10, 11-3) is atop the WAC standings going into Saturdays home game against Texas Pan-American. New Mexico State (21-9, 10-4) visits Bakersfield on Saturday. Patrick Kane Blackhawks Jersey . Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes, the bandleader of the beard brigade during Bostons run to the 2013 World Series title, said he will be shaving his off before spring training so that he can file it "in the archive" with his memories of the teams improbable championship. Scott Darling Blackhawks Jersey . Particularly when speaking in the stadium of Tuesdays opponent: Manchester City. "Maybe they dont fear us as before," Pique said on Monday, "because in the last two years we didnt win the Champions League. http://www.blackhawksshophockey.com/red-51-brian-c...ns-jers ey/ . Ilonen birdied five of his closing seven holes in superb scoring conditions to end the day with a two-shot lead on the Fota Island course. Ilonen had just 26 putts on the occasion of his 300th European Tour event.FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS: 1. Steve Nash (Lakers): I watched the game Sunday against Minnesota and to see him have to leave the game due to back issues is concerning. He doesnt look like he has the same explosiveness in his game as in the past. Obviously everyone loses that step/pop as we get older but to watch him this season its clear that hes far from 100%. Hes had an amazing career and as I watch right now I wonder whether hell be able to play at a high level and finish his contract with the Lakers through next season. Fingers crossed he gets well; its never easy to watch an older star player deal with injuries at the end of their career. 2. UTAH JAZZ (0-7): Man, I feel bad for Coach Tyrone Corbin. The team he has to coach is far from capable of competing at a high level on most nights. This is going to be a long season for the Jazz faithful in Salt Lake City who have been used to a good or very good level of play for over the past 25 years. Everyone was on board with the Suns (5-2) and 76ers (4-3) as the Tank Nation leaders yet theyve been a pleasant surprise. After watching the Jazz in person and a few Suns and 76ers games on TV there is no doubt that Utah is the worst team in the NBA by far. I understand teams trying to clean up their salary cap and add future picks but this is tough to watch. I feel bad for the season ticket holders and sponsors paying full price for a totally inferior product. 3. STEVEN ADAMS (Thunder): Its not as bad as the grief I get from Raptors fans for their trading of the draft rights to Roy Hibbert (17th overall) for Jermaine ONeal but Im starting to have a few fans already ask me about this guy drafted 12th by OKC with the Raptors pick that was used to acquire Kyle Lowry from Houston. Its so hard to evaluate how a trade works out until you let the whole process work itself out over a period of years in relation to both Lowry and Adams. I will say that so far Adams has impressed me with his great energy, instincts and grit. His numbers are far from Earth shattering (6ppg, 6rpg , 1.3 blocks, 52% shooting) yet if you watch him he has really nice potential and will grow at a nice steady pace in OKC not having the weight of the world on his shoulders as a young player. He was a good get for Sam Presti with the 12th pick. 4. STEVE CLIFFORD (Bobcats): Must be a day for Steves! I hope and pray that hes ok and ready to go again. Hes a longtime friend from my coaching days and weve texted back and forth since his health scare. Hes an outstanding coach and terrific person and will do a nice job for the young Charlotte squad. As I well know, the coaching profession is a meat grinder and incredibly stressful, particularly coaching a young team with limited talent. Every one of these coaches, despite the opinnions on the W-L record and strategies, works their tails off and yes, are well compensated but its still a job that can break you. Tony Esposito Blackhawks Jersey . Ill never forget what former Utah Jazz President, GM and head coach Frank Layden said to me when I was coaching, Remember, the job doesnt love you back. Very true words and when I see Clifford, John Fox (Denver Broncos) and Gary Kubiak (Houston Texans) all experience health episodes I worry what the job/profession has become and whether the price truly is worth it. Its not an easy gig. 5. RUDY GAY & DEMAR DEROZAN (Raptors): Let me get this right out there in the open: they are NOT selfish players. Does the offence slow down and/or come to a stop when they get the ball? At times, yes. With Gay shooting 37 percent and averaging 17.6 field goal attempts, and DeRozan shooting 39 percent and averaging 16.6 field goal attempts, there are a lot of concerns about the fluidity and flow of the Raptors offence. They are legitimate concerns that Im sure Dwane Casey and his staff is spending a significant time on to address. Offensive continuity is a huge challenge on every team and is a tough habit to crack. You watch San Antonio destroy the Knicks Sunday and you see a team where the ball moves and there is incredible flow. You watch the Miami Heat on most nights and the ball and player movement is picturesque. The Raptors have a ways to go to get there but they can. Both Gay and DeRozan are guys that love to probe and attack the defence with the dribble which Im cool with. The area that both need to improve upon is identifying when to dribble it, pass it or shoot it, and they need to decide a whole lot quicker before the defence gangs up on them and their four teammates become spectators. Be decisive. The idea of using four, five, six, evenseven dribbles to create a shot when the other four guys on your team stand and watch and your opponent loads up on you forcing lower percentage shots has to be a no-no. Both are very talented offensive players that can get big numbers on their own and yet more importantly can, and know how to, do it within the confines of a more structured offence. I talk every night to coaches and scouts from opposing teams and the major theme with the Raptors is that at times these two guys make their team too easy to guard with the ball-stopping habits; habits that can and have to be broken. Its easier said than done yet this is a fixable issue. Both are good guys and team guys and want to win yet their style of play sometimes causes indecision by teammates. The improvement of the player and ball movement by the Raptors will lead to a much improved team. I have no doubt that if they improve this area theyll be a tough team for any opponent to defend and thats a benefit to everyone. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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