The Southeastern Conference's public reprimand of Dale Brown on Saturday hardly softened the Louisiana State coach's tongue.
Brown, who ripped the league office and the officials in a late postgame tirade after the LSU-Tennessee fight Friday night, was again critical of Shaquille O'Neal's ejection and one-game suspension.Then, Brown dropped a bomb. He said he would recommend to O'Neal's parents that the 7-1 All-America center bypass his senior season to turn pro.
"I do not want to see this man blatantly fouled and hurt because of my selfishness to win," Brown said, after his Shaq-less Tigers were eliminated 80-74 by ninth-ranked Kentucky in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
"If he's going to get hurt and people are going to intentionally foul him for the 18th time, he needs to go get money."
After a 20-minute delay caused by the fight, three LSU players were incorrectly ejected for leaving the bench. Vernel Singleton, Maurice Williamson and Jamie Brandon were on the floor when the scuffle broke out.
Brown said referee Andre Patillo told him, "If you let us handle it this way, nobody will be suspended."
"That's why I became passive. That's why I let him eliminate guys who should not have been eliminated."
Brown said he didn't learn of O'Neal's one-game suspension until well after Friday's contest. SEC administrators said Patillo would not react to Brown's comment.
In a statement quoting SEC Commissioner Roy Kramer, who is in Kansas City as chairman of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee, Brown was cited for violating four Code of Ethics policies - including public criticism of officials and conduct.
The conduct violation was for rushing onto the floor to push the Vols' Carlus Groves, who intentionally fouled O'Neal with 10:05 left in the game.
After Brown stormed onto the court, fighting ensued and five players from each team were ejected. Groves and O'Neal were slapped with one-game suspensions for fighting.
"I have discussed with coach Brown the importance of his compliance with all policies of the SEC," Kramer said in a release. "Any further violation of these policies will result in more severe action, including suspension of all coaching duties for one or more games, which may extend into the next season."
Brown declined to comment on the reprimand, but LSU athletic director Joe Dean said:
"It's something the league has to do. I expected it. I accept it. I understand it. And Dale does, too."
Friday night, Brown said the SEC should be "embarrassed" for suspending O'Neal, called the ruling a "joke" and "unfair" and ripped the officials or being inconsistent all year in enforcing the rules on intentional or flagrant fouls.
"It was a joke what happened," said Brown. "I think the league owes everyone a total apology. It's unfair how we were handled."