When you think of major sporting brawls, it is perhaps unlikely that basketball would spring immediately to mind as a contender for one of the more aggressive sports out there.
Basketball is, after all, largely a non-contact sport, and certainly doesn't compare to the brutality of the NFL, rugby or - it goes without saying - combat sports.
Speaking of brawls in sporting competition, check out the all-out riot that ensued after Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Conor McGregor in the UFC:However, every now and then tempers do flare in the basketball, too. After all, who could forget the infamous Pacers/Pistons brawl in 2004, now known as the Malice at the Palace.
The NBA in particular has been mindful of its public image in recent years, not least since it began expanding into international markets like China and Britain.
However, a Big 12 college basketball matchup between bitter rivals Kansas and Kansas State descended into a wild bench-clearing brawl on Tuesday, after an incident late in the game.
Per USA Today, Kansas big Silvio De Sousa made an emphatic block on a shot attempt from Kansas State player DaJuan Gordon, before standing over the K-State player, shouting at him.
It was at this point that both teams' benches cleared as players rushed onto the scene, sparking a shoving match and punches being thrown. It's reported that, at one point, De Sousa picked up a stool and held it above his head, before assistant coach Jerrance Howard took it off him.
You can see the massive brawl right here:Kansas coach Bill Self said of the incident;
“Without knowing exactly everything that went down, it was obvious to me that we played a role in what transpired and there will be penalties for that.
“I need to see the film to comment or have any definitive thoughts on exactly why or how it got started, because to be honest with you I don’t have any idea about that.”
Meanwhile, Kansas athletics director Jeff Long stated;
“The conduct of a few of our student-athletes at the conclusion of tonight’s game vs. Kansas State was simply unacceptable and not reflective of who we are.
“Coach Self and I will review the incident, along with the Big 12 Conference and Kansas State to determine appropriate consequences. There is no place for this conduct in college athletics or here at KU. I would like to apologize to the Big 12 Conference, Kansas State University, (K-State AD) Gene Taylor, (K-State coach) Bruce Weber and all fans for the lack of sportsmanship from members of our team this evening.”
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Big 12 conference has suspended four players as a result of the incident.
"This kind of behavior cannot be tolerated and these suspensions reflect the severity of last evening’s events," said Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby in a statement.
