(Un)Sportsmanlike conduct

Three good deeds (and three bad ones) from the 2003-04 season

By Stewart Mandel, SI.com

Sportsmanlike

Rob Little tried to give his friend a proper farewell. Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images Vandy's Corey Smith fought with his fists, while coach Kevin Stallings used his mouth. AP

• As the final seconds of their team's history-making 82-50 win over St. Bonaventure ticked away, wrapping up college basketball's first undefeated regular season since 1991, St. Joe's students did the unthinkable -- they didn't rush the court. A faculty member also led them in a round of applause for the losing Bonnies.

• With his team still chasing a perfect regular-season record, Stanford center Rob Little asked coach Mike Montgomery to give his starting spot to senior reserve Joe Kirchofer for the Cardinal's final home game Feb. 28 against Oregon.

• After Jameer Nelson's last-second shot against Oklahoma State in the Elite Eight fell short, several Cowboys players delayed their celebration for a few moments to console the St. Joe's star, whose illustrious career had just ended in heartbreak.

Unsportsmanlike

• Fordham assistant Alex Groothuis was suspended for two games after a team manager seated across from opponent Xavier's bench allegedly used a walkie-talkie to relay plays the Musketeers coaches were calling on a dry-erase board.

• After Vanderbilt's Corey Smith and South Carolina's Renaldo Balkman were ejected for fighting during the teams' Jan. 28 game, Commodores coach Kevin Stallings insinuated possible retaliation at Balkman, saying, "I'd be worried about his teeth in the next game." He later apologized.

• Texas coach Rick Barnes got himself ejected with 3.9 seconds left in the Longhorns' Sweet 16 loss to Xavier for arguing with referee Ted Valentine, costing his team its last remaining chance of overcoming what was then a three-point deficit.

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