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Wisconsin Basketball: Diamond Stone Suspended for Actions Against Vitto Brown

By Jim Oxley

Feb 13, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins center Diamond Stone (33) shoots as Wisconsin Badgers forward Ethan Happ (22) defends during the second half at Xfinity Center. Wisconsin Badgers defeated Maryland Terrapins 70-57. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins center Diamond Stone (33) shoots as Wisconsin Badgers forward Ethan Happ (22) defends during the second half at Xfinity Center. Wisconsin Badgers defeated Maryland Terrapins 70-57. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Diamond Stone has been suspended one game by Maryland

For his actions during the Wisconsin Badgers matchup with the Maryland Terrapins, freshman center Diamond Stone has been suspended one game by Maryland. During a rebound attempt, Stone and Wisconsin forward Vitto Brown were tangled up, and Stone appeared to take Brown to the floor, then slammed his head against the ground as he got up.

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Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon spoke to reporters and apologized on behalf of Stone to both Vitto Brown and Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard, saying Stone knew he had made a mistake.

"“Diamond’s conduct during Saturday’s game was a poor representation of the standards that we have established as a program at the University of Maryland. I have talked with Diamond and he realizes he made a mistake. He felt very badly about what happened and will learn from this experience. I want to sincerely apologize to Vitto Brown and Greg Gard for what transpired Saturday.”"

Stone was only given a Flagrant 1 foul and allowed to stay in the game, while Wisconsin’s Charlie Thomas was also hit with a technical after the incident. Though he wasn’t ejected from the game, the University of Maryland decided to suspend Stone one game for his actions.

The Big Ten Conference supported Maryland’s decision to suspend Stone, and offered the following press release:

"“The Big Ten office announced that it agrees with Maryland’s suspension of men’s basketball player Diamond Stone for violating the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy during a game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Feb. 13. The conference also publicly reprimands Stone for his actions.Stone was issued a contact dead ball technical foul at the end of the first half during Saturday’s game against Wisconsin. He will serve his one-game suspension on Thursday, Feb. 18, at Minnesota.Stone’s actions were in violation of Big Ten Conference Agreement 10.01, which states in part that ‘The Big Ten Conference expects all contests involving a member institution to be conducted without compromise to any fundamental element of sportsmanship. Such fundamental elements include integrity of competition, civility toward all, and respect, particularly toward opponents and officials.’”"

Interestingly enough, though the Big Ten Conference supported Maryland’s decision to suspend Stone, they have not decided to reprimand the officials in any way for not ejecting Stone.

In the aftermath of the incident, Brown said Stone has called him to apologize.

If so, good on you, Diamond, for making things as right as you can. Wisconsin fans already have plenty of vitriol against Stone for picking Maryland over his home state, so he will never be liked by Badgers fans. He can, however, make things right with Vitto, which he seems to have done here.

Stone will miss Maryland’s matchup against Minnesota on Thursday.

Next: Badgers Closing in on AP Poll

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