The disappointing nature of Kansas forward Carlton Bragg’s nascent career reached a new low on Friday following an arrest and subsequent battery charge of battery by the Douglas County (Kansas) District Attorney’s Office. Although the charge doesn’t specifically fall under the domestic violence statute because of how the state of Kansas defines it, a press release from the office explains that it is effectively the same thing. The statement also identified the alleged victim as Bragg’s girlfriend, whom he is accused of striking and pushing down the stairs. Kansas head coach Bill Self suspended the sophomore center indefinitely last night as the school continues to gather facts. With Bragg’s next court appearance set for December 27, it’s possible that he’ll miss more than just today’s game against Nebraska as the legal process unfolds.
Unfortunately this is not the first time Self has had to handle players running afoul of the law on his watch. In 2006, for example, he dismissed C.J. Giles after a former girlfriend charged the player with battery. Four years later, he suspended Mario Little following charges of battery, criminal damage to property and criminal trespassing. Little missed six games in 2010 but finished the season in Lawrence before graduating. More recently, Thomas Robinson was cited in 2011 for striking and spitting on a Lawrence nightclub employee, but the victim in that incident ultimately chose not to file charges.
The nature of Bragg’s alleged incident in an environment of heightened sensitivity to domestic violence in sports has led some to speculate that he may have already played his last game in a Jayhawks uniform. While that may ultimately be the case, Giles already had multiple incidents to his name prior to the one that ultimately became Self’s final straw. Bragg entered this season as Perry Ellis’ purported replacement at power forward, but he was benched just five games into the season because of shaky defense, a lack of aggression on offense and the early success of Kansas’ four-guard lineups. Without Bragg available inside, Kansas’ biggest weakness of frontcourt depth could grow starker. But with Josh Jackson‘s emergence as a solid defender and finisher, Landen Lucas showing steady improvement down low and Udoka Azubuike proving himself capable of contributions in stretches, this news does not make it the time to write off the Jayhawks as national title contenders.