Kansas State Head Coach Bruce Weber Ejected in Exhibition Loss
Kansas State Wildcats‘ head coach Bruce Weber, who was hired this past off-season to replace Frank Martin (now at South Carolina), recently became the second coach from a high-major conference to be ejected during their team’s foreign exhibition trip.
Missouri Tigers‘ head coach Frank Haith was kicked out of an exhibition game against the Netherlands over the weekend after arguing a no-call on an elbow that landed on the head of freshman forward Stefan Jankovic. Haith then removed his team from the court, barring any further action.
Neither ejection holds any penalty.
Weber’s situation however, shouldn’t come as any surprise given how the game played out. In fact, the Wildcats’ opponent, the Tijuca Club (Brazil), shot 41 free throws in the game. Five Kansas State players fouled out in the long and drawn out contest.
“It was tough, hard-fought loss tonight,” Weber said in a school press release. “It was a foul-plagued game with lots of technicals and double-fouls. I have been on many international trips and you never know what type of officials you are going to get in these games and FIBA rules are pretty different. They let us play pretty physical in our first three games and tonight we had five guys foul out, but give our kids credit for coming back.”
The worst part: K-State lost the contest, 74-72.
Star guard Rodney McGruder scored 16 points, while fellow back court mate Will Spradling added 12.
K-State assistant coach Chris Lowery added his thoughts on Twitter following the game, saying, “never been in a game where I was fearful that my players would get hurt.”
Lowery joined Weber’s staff this past off-season. Both coaches have had previous head coaching stints at Southern Illinois.
Be sure to follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @TheArenaPulse
