Clements won't be suspended for Saturday outburst

1/6/2009

BOWLING GREEN - Darryl Clements will not be suspended for abruptly leaving the bench after arguing with an assistant coach during Bowling Green State University's last basketball game.

Falcons head coach Louis Orr said yesterday Clements, a senior forward, practiced yesterday and is expected to start Saturday against Buffalo. Clements jawed with assistant coach George Jackson, threw his jersey down, and headed for the locker room during the second half of BGSU's 65-59 win over Fordham.

Clements was seen rolling his eyes and slumping his shoulders in response to something Jackson said to him and was promptly removed from the game. More words were exchanged, and

Clements left the bench and never returned.

Orr said a team meeting was held before practice yesterday to "address all the issues," and "I feel like we got it resolved."

"Darryl Clements is our lone captain, and he will remain our captain," Orr said. "He's got his picture on the side of this building [Memorial Hall]. He's a very good student, and he's going to graduate in the summer. And he's really been one of our best leaders.

"That being said, getting to the point where you leave the court and walk off the court in the middle of the game is unacceptable behavior, but it's also a chance for us to teach and for a young man to learn."

A university spokesman said Clements, Jackson, and the rest of the players and coaches were not permitted to speak about the incident.

Orr said he was going to "ride Darryl Clements day in and day out" and "will see the consistency of his character."

"He's a good teammate and a good character young man," Orr said. "His emotions and frustrations got the best of him."

When asked specifically why Clements left the bench, Orr said: "I would say generally his emotions, maybe frustration, and probably a lack of self control."

Orr said Jackson would not be suspended for his role in the incident.

"We all met, all the coaches, everybody that was involved with the team on the bench, and we cleared the air. We addressed things and we're going to move forward," Orr said.

With the Clements-Jackson dispute apparently behind them, the Falcons are prepping to open MAC play Saturday when Buffalo visits Anderson Arena. BGSU (7-6) is 5-0 at home and 0-6 in true road games, with its other two victories coming at neutral sites.

"We haven't played our best basketball, so that's not all bad," Orr said. "Looking ahead, I think that's a good thing if we continue to improve. We do have room for growth, and that's a good thing. Looking at where we are, we are where we are. Our record shows our inconsistency. We've got a chance to get better."

BGSU junior Niki McCoy was named the MAC East women's basketball player of the week.

McCoy, a Northview graduate, averaged 18 points and four rebounds in the Falcons' two road wins and was named the most valuable player of the Dayton Flyer Classic. She scored 20 points and grabbed four boards in a 77-68 victory over Dayton in the championship game.

McCoy is second on the Falcons with 14.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Contact Joe Vardon at:

jvardon@theblade.com

or 419-410-5055.