DURHAM - Duke junior guard Nolan Smith has been suspended for the first two games of the regular season for playing in a non-sanctioned summer league, team spokesman Matt Plizga said Tuesday.
Smith will miss the Nov. 13 season opener against UNC Greensboro and the Nov. 16 game against Coastal Carolina. Plizga said Smith thought the league he was playing in had been approved by the NCAA and didn't find out otherwise until he returned to campus.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will address the issue after tonight's exhibition game against Findlay is finished, Plizga said. Duke struggled without Smith in the first half, committing 10 turnovers, but led 36-23 at the intermission.
This will be the second time in six years that a guard from a Triangle ACC school served a suspension to open the season because of unsanctioned summer play.
In 2004, North Carolina point guard Raymond Felton was suspended for the season opener for playing in an uncertified summer league. The Tar Heels lost that game, against Santa Clara, but they went on to win the national title.
Comments
STILL NO BIG DEAL
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 21:30 — foreverdukeMY POINT ON THIS ARTICLE WAS THE FACT THEY COULDN'T JUST WRITE AN ARTICLE ABOUT IT ONCE IT HAD TO BE THREE OR MORE TIMES. I CAN SEE HOW IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD BUT WHY SO MANY ARTICLES ABOUT IT . ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THERE IS ONLY SO MANY THINGS TO SAY ABOUT IT. AS FAR AS HAVING FAITH IN MY TEAM, WELL I HAVE ALOT. THE ADJUSTMENT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS JUST A CHANGE IN THE LINEUP FOR A FEW GAMES. THERE IS ENOUGH TALENT THAT WE WILL BE FINE UNTIL NOLAN PLAYS AGAIN. NO MATTER HOW YOU TRY TO SAY IT THERE ARE STILL NASTY COMMENTS ABOUT NOLAN AND THE TEAM ITSELF. I AM A TRUE DUKE FAN 100%. GO DUKE!
NOT A BIG DEAL
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 09:57 — foreverdukeTHIS ISN'T THAT BIG OF A DEAL. IT SHOULD NOT EVEN MAKE THE HEADLINES. WRITE ABOUT IT ONCE AND LET IT GO. IT'S NOTHING SOME OTHER PLAYERS HAVEN'T DONE. AS FAR AS COACH K KNOWING I'M SURE HE DID NOT OR WOULD HAVE ADVISED HIM NOT TO. I GUESS SOME PEOPLE THINK DUKE DOES EVERYTHING WRONG AND THEIR TEAM DOSEN'T. NOLAN IS A GOOD POINT QUARD THEY WILL ADJUST THE NEXT TWO GAMES. DUKE WILL BE FINE. OTHER OPINIONS ARE JUST THAT OPINIONS. GO DUKE!
you missed my whole point
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:13 — gvillegatras usual. there is no gray area in this rule. it is point blank and ironically it doesn't mean much.
thats why I think K knew and told him to go ahead and play in these games b/c he (Nolan) badly needed the pracitce against these better players.
I find it funny how you think DUIke will "adjust" in these next two games he misses. you must not think very highly of your team. no adjustments, whatsoever" need to be made to beat these two patsies.
here me out before you judge me!
Wed, 11/04/2009 - 19:48 — gvillegatrIMO I believe K told Nolan Smith to go play in this league.
Theres no way on God's Green Earth Nolan did not know what he was doing was wrong per the NCAA's. These guys (supposedly are told and told and told) what kind of summer leage they can play in and what kind of summer league they cannot play in. It's not a difficult thing to remember either. Pretty much if there are refs or a clock, you can't play.
The thing is, thats where all the pros are playing. And that is precisley why he was there ... TO GET BETTER!
Nolan is the only true PG on the team with any collegiate experience and that is not syaing alot at all. The guy needed some value time playing against guys who were a lot better than he.
I think K told him to go play in these games b'c he knew the consequences were minimal and basically a slap on the wrist.
Lets see. Can we afford to miss Nolan Smith against UNCG and some other crap school if he plays against NBA talent all summer and can get vaulable experinece from it? OF COURSE!
This has been on my mind for a day or so now. Then, I hear K talk about it today on 99.9. He says it is a crap rule, basically. says he thinks all kids should be able to do this.
I knew I was right when I heard that. I also think other schools do it as well. I'm sure Raymond knew exactly what he was doing back in the summer of '04, too.