Kansas suspended 6-foot-10 sophomore forward Carlton Bragg Jr. for a violation of team rules ahead of Saturday’s matchup with No. 4 Kentucky.
Bragg is averaging 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds.
“This violation is not connected to the alleged incident in McCarthy Hall on Dec. 17th,” coach Bill Self said in a statement.
University of Kansas police are investigating an alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl at McCarthy Hall, which houses the Kansas men’s basketball team and other male students. Kansas players Frank Mason III, Mitch Lightfoot, Lagerald Vick, Tucker Vang and Josh Jackson were named as witnesses in the alleged incident.
Self called the investigation a “major distraction” on Thursday.
“There’s obviously a very serious allegation that has been made,” he said on Tuesday after losing to West Virginia. “So that trumps figuring out how to guard [Malik] Monk or [De’Aaron] Fox, to be real candid with you.”
Bragg was suspended one game earlier this season after he was charged with misdemeanor battery. He was reinstated after prosecutors dismissed the charge Dec. 14.
Kansas is already without freshman center Udoka Azubuike, done for the season with a wrist injury.
Kansas now has just eight scholarship players against Kentucky.
Both teams are coming off losses on Tuesday, Kansas at West Virginia and Kentucky at Tennessee.
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