Jerome Tang suspends K-State forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin indefinitely following arrest
The Kansas State men’s basketball team will likely begin the season without one of its best players.
It’s unclear when, or if, he will return to the court for the Wildcats.
K-State coach Jerome Tang announced on Monday that Nae’Qwan Tomlin has been suspended indefinitely after he was arrested for “disorderly conduct” and “brawling or fighting” early Sunday morning at Tubby’s Sports Bar in the Manhattan entertainment district known as Aggieville.
“I have indefinitely suspended Nae’Qwan Tomlin for not living up to the expectations we require of our players,” Tang said in a statement. “Although he is not with the team, he is still part of our family, and we will do what can to support him as he moves through this process.”
His absence will be a major loss for the Wildcats for however long he remains away from the team.
Tomin, a senior forward who averaged 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Wildcats last season, is the top returning player on the K-State basketball roster. His mixture of size and athleticism makes him one of the best all-around players in the Big 12.
He was expected to be a major contributor for the Wildcats this season as they look to build on a successful first season under Tang, which ended with 26 victories and a trip to the Elite Eight.
Without him, K-State will turn to other less experienced and less talented players in the post.
It is unclear how long Tang will opt to discipline Tomlin, as this is the first player he has suspended since he was hired as head coach.
K-State signed Tomlin out of junior college last season and he immediately helped the Wildcats as a starter in the frontcourt. He was so good during his first year at K-State that he tried out for several NBA teams during the spring before deciding to return to college for his senior year.
The K-State basketball team will play its first exhibition game of the season against Emporia State at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Bramlage Colisum. The Wildcats will then open the season on Nov. 6 against USC in Las Vegas.
That game will be much more difficult for K-State than originally expected without Tomlin in the lineup.