Wow..one game suspension.
PHILADELPHIA -- John Chaney's use of a "goon" is going to have a lasting effect on Saint Joseph's.
Hawks senior forward John Bryant could miss the rest of the season after an MRI on Thursday showed he had a broken right arm. Bryant was injured on a hard foul two days earlier by a Temple player who Chaney put in the game for the sole purpose of rough play and hard fouls.
Bryant will miss at least three to four weeks, the school said. The standard recovery time for the injury is eight to 10 weeks, but Bryant will pursue aggressive rehabilitation and be evaluated weekly by team doctors.
The Hawks (15-9, 12-1 Atlantic 10) clinched a share of their fifth straight conference title, but will likely have to win the conference tournament to earn an NCAA Tournament berth.
Bryant was knocked hard to the floor on a layup by Nehemiah Ingram and was sprawled on the court for several minutes in Tuesday's win over the Owls. Temple students spit at Bryant while he was on the floor and booed when he was helped up.
Chaney suspended himself Wednesday for one game and apologized for putting in a player to "send a message" to the Hawks. Chaney turned to the seldom-used 6-foot-8, 250-pound Ingram to even the score after he complained the referees were not calling what he thought were illegal screens by Saint Joseph's.
Ingram, who was called a "goon" by Chaney after the game, fouled out in 4 minutes. He has played in 14 games, averaging 0.4 points and 0.9 rebounds in 4 minutes per outing.
Bryant averaged 3.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 23 games, with seven starts. He started 28 of 30 games last year when the Hawks reached No. 1 in the polls and advanced to the regional final of the NCAA Tournament.
"I grew up watching Chaney, I still admire him, but I don't really understand the situation fully," Bryant said Wednesday. "It was just weird."
