By Ashley Dunkak
Just when we thought there could not possibly be any more trauma and drama for the men’s basketball team this season, it turns out we were wrong.
Earlier this season, seniors Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly were suspended for 3 and 6 games, respectively, for “receiving impermissible benefits.” About three weeks ago, junior forward Freddy Asprilla left the team. Not two weeks after that, sophomore forward Wally Judge left the team. Now, tongues are wagging that Kelly is in trouble again.
The Topeka Capitol-Journal reported today that Kelly is being investigated for a potential violation of department policy. The violation, which school officials could not confirm because of student privacy, could result in his suspension for the rest of the season, according to an article by Austin Meek.
Kelly, an All-Big 12 selection, has struggled throughout this season. Of the 24 games the Wildcats have played so far, the senior has seen the court in only 15. Six of those absences were due to suspension, as mentioned earlier, but before any of that came to light, head coach Frank Martin had elected to leave the forward on the bench in the first three games of the season – James Madison, Virginia Tech and Presbyterian.
Since coming back from his suspension, Kelly has been inconsistent at best. In K-State’s route of Texas Tech, he scored 12 points. Against Missouri, he got 4. At Texas A&M and versus Baylor, he had double-digit performances, but then he had zero in the KU game, sitting out the entire second half.
After a 16-point effort in the win over Nebraska, Kelly put up only 6 points in the victory in Ames, Iowa. What Martin said about his senior in the post-game press conference after that Huskers game seems especially poignant in light of these recent issues – whatever they may be.
“Curt’s biggest wrestling match is with himself,” Martin said. “When he makes a mistake, he can’t let go of that mistake, and then it affects his demeanor, his approach, everything for periods of time.”
“Then that’s when I engage with him. He can’t do that. He’s too good a player, number one, to our team, to be wrapped up over a mistake.”
“I tell him all the time, there’s people making a gazillion dollars a year make mistakes, but the reason they make a gazillion dollars a year? It’s because as soon as they make a mistake it’s over and they’re on to the next play. We need him to do that for our team.”
