Kansas won’t have Carlton Bragg for Saturday’s matchup with Kentucky after it was announced he’s been suspended indefinitely.
Carlton Bragg has been suspended indefinitely from the Kansas basketball program for a violation of team rules, the team announced in a statement on Thursday night. The suspension is not related to the alleged incident at McCarthy Hall.
This is Bragg’s second suspension of the season. The first came in early December when the sophomore was investigated for an altercation with his girlfriend. Those charges were ultimately dismissed after Bragg was exonerated by security footage.
The former top-20 recruit was expected to have a breakout season as a sophomore for the Jayhawks, but he has largely disappointed. Bragg is averaging 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds while playing just 15.0 minutes per game in his sophomore campaign.
For Kansas, the suspension couldn’t be more poorly timed. The Jayhawks are coming off of a 16-point loss to no. 18 West Virginia on Tuesday that raised significant questions about the quality of their defense.
Things will get harder before they get easier, too. The team will face no. 4 Kentucky at Rupp Arena on Saturday before hosting no. 5 Baylor next Wednesday in a contest that could help determine the fate of their quest for a 13th straight Big 12 regular season title.
After losing freshman Udoka Azubuike to a wrist injury earlier in the season, Kansas has struggled to find production in the frontcourt, particularly on the defensive end.
Kentucky’s Bam Adebayo and Baylor’s Johnathan Motley are likely licking their chops at the news of Bragg’s suspension as the Jayhawks will have just Landen Lucas and scarcely used bigs Mitch Lightfoot and Dwight Coleby on the bench if Bragg is unavailable.
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The 21-year-old Bragg is by no means well-known for his post defense, but he does provide head coach Bill Self with another body to throw at opponents. Now, Self will rely heavily on Lucas to deliver in the sophomore’s absence.