Syracuse vs. Monmouth: Hawks' Coach Suspended for Game

Monmouth Hawks coach King Rice was probably looking forward to the chance to coach against the Syracuse Orange this Saturday. The game would have been a kinda-sorta Homecoming for the former Binghamton High basketball star. He even made sure to schedule the game the same week as a game against Binghamton U.

Unfortunately for him, he'll have to sit this one out. Rice was suspended by the university for the Syracuse game over comments he made about officials in Monmouth's 88-65 loss to the Navy Midshipmen on Wednesday.

"Here’s the problem," Rice was quoted by the Asbury Park Press. "I don’t cuss at these guys, they’ve got a chip on their shoulder towards me."

"Those two officials have a problem with King Rice for some reason," he said, "and they showed it tonight."

I don't have a problem with him complaining about officials, it's the speaking-in-third-person that deserves the suspension in my opinion.

The officials in question were Steve Ruppenthal and Brian Dorsey. Dorsey works the ACC sometimes, so, bury that nugget away.

Monmouth is 5-4 on the season, which includes an 84-57 loss to Notre Dame (refs' fault) and 77-65 win over Binghamton (refs' help).