Corey Chandler might have set a record for getting kicked out of schools.
Just a few weeks after he was dismissed from Rutgers, Chandler and four other Binghamton players were booted out of that school.
D.J. Rivera, Malik Alvin, Paul Crosby and David Fine were the other players released. The school’s Website shows the players already removed from the roster.
The Bearcats won the America East last year and made the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s important that everyone who is playing for Binghamton University and for me to be on the same page as to what kind of commitment we expect of our student-athletes, both on and off the court,” Binghamton coach Kevin Broadus said in a statement.
“There’s only one captain steering this ship, and that’s me. If any of the young men in our program don’t respect the decisions that have been made or the rules we have in place, then they need to move on with their lives,” Broadus said.
“We’ll play with the student-athletes that want to be here, have respect for the institution, the game and the opportunities that we have provided for them,” the coach said.
Sean Tainsh, spokesman for the America East Conference, had no comment when reached by phone.
A message left for Patrick Nero, the America East Commissioner, was not immediately returned.
“At what price glory?” Tom Brennan, the former Vermont coach, asked The New York Times. “Not only have they embarrassed themselves and the university, but they’ve embarrassed the America East as well.”
On Wednesday Binghamton player Tiki Mayben was arrested and charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance (crack cocaine), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fifth degree criminal posession of a controlled substance, all felonies.
Mayben was arrested earlier this month for possession of marijuana, according to The Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin.
Carl Hayden, an Elmira lawyer who is chairman of the SUNY Board of Trustees, said he wasn’t happy.
“I’m not pleased to read about this incident, particularly against the backdrop of prior incidents. I view the situation seriously,” he told the Press & Sun-Bulletin. “Binghamton is one of the crown jewels of the SUNY system, and I don’t want to see its standards in any way compromised.”
Nancy Zimpher, the new SUNY chancellor, has a reputation for taking a hard line on coaches. She helped get rid of Bob Huggins during her time at Cincinnati.
“In light of the most recent incident and other previous incidents related to the men’s basketball team,” Zimpher said in a statement, “I have requested President DeFleur to report on the immediate steps the campus is taking to address these serious issues.”
(photo courtesy nj.com)
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