WKU Basketball: Desean Murray Suspended For Season Opener at Washington

Following the Hilltoppers’ 96–71 exhibition victory against Kentucky Wesleyan, WKU head coach Rick Stansbury addressed the elephant in the…

Following the Hilltoppers’ 96–71 exhibition victory against Kentucky Wesleyan, WKU head coach Rick Stansbury addressed the elephant in the room regarding senior grad-transfer Desean Murray.

“Desean is indefinitely suspended for violation of team rules and he will not travel to Washington with us,” Stansbury said to open his press conference. “When you don’t make the right decisions, there’s accountability with it. Just because you’re a good person who makes a bad decision doesn’t mean it’s right.”

When asked about what the future for Murray holds after Washington, Stansbury said he’ll make a decision after the Tops’ matchup with the Huskies; “We will see, Brad [Stephens]. I don’t know.”

Stansbury continued to say he was “more hurt than disappointed,” and talked about how his players are good kids and how he hates to see them in trouble.

Earlier in the day, it was reported by the aforementioned Brad Stephens that Murray had been cited for possession of marijuana on Friday.

He also said Josh Anderson has served his suspension and will travel with the team to Seattle.

Murray’s loss on the floor, size wise, will be a big loss for the Hilltoppers as he was supposed to be the second big man in the paint, along with Charles Bassey, to reflect last year’s 1–2-Punch of Justin Johnson and Dwight Coleby.

If Saturday’s lineup in the exhibition is any indication, it may be Marek Nelson who takes Murray’s spot in the starting lineup against the Huskies, but the Tops are fairly deep at forward this year (albeit very young) so the options are plentiful.

However, not many of those options have SEC experience. But whatever.

To view Stansbury’s full comments on the situation, see the video below.