Michigan State head basketball coach Tom Izzo today suspended junior guard Chris Allen for the opener of the Big Ten conference tournament and perhaps longer.
"Chris Allen is not going to play in the game on Friday," Izzo told the Detroit Free Press.
"Somebody's got to grow up, and it's taking a little longer for some to grow up. There's some guys that don't understand that your team is the most valuable thing you have. He's not demonstrating that to me or my staff."
The move is similar to the one-game benching that Izzo gave to junior point guard and All Big Ten first teamer Kalin Lucas earlier this season.
Lucas appeared to respond the way Izzo wanted and regained his starting job. Allen's scoring had plummeted lately because he had been concentrating on defending the opponent's top scorer.
Allen did a solid job on Michigan's Manny Harris in the season finale, holding him to just four points on 1-of-10 shooting from the field. The Spartans won the game 64-48.
The Spartans will face the winner of the Penn State/Minnesota game on Friday night. Allen could be reinstated in time for a possible second round matchup with Purdue.