Duke guard Smith to sit out season's first two games

Duke

Duke guard Smith to sit out season's first two games

By Ryan Craig

Nov 4, 2009

comments

Duke's thin back court just got a little thinner for the start of the regular season.

Nolan Smith, Duke's starting shooting guard, will miss the team's first two regular season games after "violating rules pertaining to summer league participation," according to Matt Plizga, the school's assistant director of sports information for men's basketball.

Smith told reporters Tuesday night that he was suspended for playing in a game with overseas players and professionals over the summer near his hometown of Washington, D.C.

Smith is slated to miss Duke's contests against UNC-Greensboro Nov. 13 and Coastal Carolina Nov. 16.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said they had known about the incident since the summer.

"We’re ready to move on," Krzyzewski said. "We’re a different team without him, though. There’s no question about that.”

With the loss of Smith, the Blue Devils will now only have the services of one true guard with any kind of real collegiate experience – Jon Scheyer.

Jordan Davidson, a former walk-on, has played sparingly during his tenure with the team, and freshman Andre Dawkins only arrived on campus a few months ago after bypassing his final year of high school.

Forward Kyle Singler was slated to play more on the perimeter this season, and may see time at the two in Smith's absence.

Most Recent Comments

RE: Duke guard Smith to sit out season's first two games

I think Duke will be fine. It's a good chance to get Dawkins in the game and get him some good playing time.

RE: Duke guard Smith to sit out season's first two games

Wow! I just got on here! Tarheel fans jumped on here right out of the gate, huh? Season hasn't even got started yet and they seem so worried! Calm down baby blues!

RE: Duke guard Smith to sit out season's first two games

dukemom, 'as small as this?' You don't even know what he did, how can you make a judgement and comparison to a different sport, different circumstances, different people, different Conference?

I mean, really, it's Coastal Carolina and who?
- Posted by TarheelTurtle

It says in the article what he did. He played in a summer league, compare that to eye gouging. You cant even eye gouge in UFC.

I believe Raymond Felton did the exact same thing one year and had to sit out 2 games also. Which in his absence UNC fell to mighty UC Santa Cruz. Google it people.
- Posted by wormwood33

Google is useful. If you had used it you would have discovered that UNC lost to the Santa Clara Broncos on their way to a tourney in Hawaii. That's a lot better than explaining how you lost to the mighty Banana Slugs of UC Santa Cruz.

Is that a great nickname, or what?

RE: Duke guard Smith to sit out season's first two games

DUKE enrollment 6300 smart kids vs nashville nc pop 4300 and 1 Idiot (screen name tarheelbasketballfan )
- Posted by badcompany1023

6300 smart kids and one smart azz name badcompany1023.

RE: Duke guard Smith to sit out season's first two games

DUKE enrollment 6300 smart kids vs nashville nc pop 4300 and 1 Idiot (screen name tarheelbasketballfan )

WRAL Sports Fan

Duke