ACC suspends Clemson’s David Collins after flagrant foul on Duke’s Wendell Moore Jr.
Clemson’s David Collins was suspended for one game on Friday for his flagrant foul on Duke’s Wendell Moore Jr. during Thursday night’s game.
The ACC meted out the disciplinary action following its review of the play Collins admitted was “reckless.”
Collins will miss Clemson’s Saturday home game with Notre Dame.
With 3:07 remaining in the first half of No. 7 Duke’s 82-64 win, Moore stole the ball from Collins and drove for a breakaway dunk. But Collins undercut Moore six seconds later as he dunked the ball, causing Moore to crash hard to the floor.
The game officials immediately called an intentional foul on Collins and, while tending to Moore, separated the players to prevent further escalation of the incident.
Following a replay review, with the players and coaches gathered at their respective benches, the officials assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 on Collins. That included an ejection from the game and triggered an automatic review of the play by the ACC office.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who after the game called the play “one of the most dangerous plays I’ve ever seen,” left Duke’s bench are and angrily walked down the court while looking at the Clemson bench, to tend to Moore.
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When Moore stood up and was not seriously injured, Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils returned to their bench area. After the officials ejected Collins from the game, he and Clemson coach Brad Brownell walked over to Krzyzewski to apologize.
Krzyzewski hugged Collins twice and also embraced Brownell.
“We have a lot of respect for Coach K and Duke and their program,” Brownell said. “The last thing we’re trying to do is hurt anybody. It’s just the right thing to do was to take them over there and make sure, since he’s leaving the court, that he has to stand up and apologize himself. So that’s why we did it.”
Brownell said Collins was emotional and overly competitive after Moore stole the ball from him.
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“He’s fighting like crazy to get back into play, and then he makes the wrong play,” Brownell said.
A 6-4 senior guard, Collins has started every game for the Tigers this season. He posted an apology on his Instagram account Thursday night.
“I was going to try to block it from behind but I was going too fast and I couldn’t stop,” Collins wrote. “I realized I needed to stop when it was too late. I’ve never been a dirty player. Never will. I wish bro a healthy season and I never tried to hurt anybody but I know people are entitled to their opinion. I have respect towards Duke and Clemson and I apologize for a reckless play. I’m glad Wendell is ok.”
This story was originally published February 11, 2022 at 2:42 PM with the headline "ACC suspends Clemson’s David Collins after flagrant foul on Duke’s Wendell Moore Jr.."