COLLEGE BASKETBALL
UB’s Robinson suspended 3 games
University at Buffalo senior guard Andy Robinson has been reinstated but will be suspended for the first three games of the basketball season for his solicitation of academic fraud last spring.
Robinson, who led UB in scoring last season, in April was suspended indefinitely after attempting to solicit another student to complete his course work. Robinson, an honorable mention All-Mid-American Conference selection last season as a junior, was not allowed to participate in offseason conditioning and individual workouts.
Robinson is practicing this week as the Bulls prepare to play three exhibition games and a scrimmage in Canada over Labor Day weekend.
“He is back practicing with the team after serving a suspension in the spring,” said UB coach Reggie Witherspoon in a statement released by the school. “He has done everything asked of him from the university, division of athletics and men’s basketball program to atone for his actions and has learned and grown from his mistake. Andy had a successful summer session in the classroom and we look forward to a successful senior season on the court.”
Robinson admitted posting a message on the social networking site facebook.com last April that read: “I am paying anybody who have read the book ‘there are no children here’ by Alex Kotlowitz $30-40 which in some classes you have to read at UB (even more money if you have to read the book a little more!!) to write a 3-4 page paper, on a couple questions which was assigned.”
Robinson’s action violated UB’s policies regarding academic integrity and he could have been charged with academic fraud. The Facebook message was discovered by another UB student, who alerted reporters at UB’s student newspaper, the Spectrum. Robinson’s Facebook page was immediately removed and he completed the assignment on his own.
The senior shooting guard was a bright spot in an otherwise dismal 10-20 season for the Bulls. Robinson led the team in scoring (13.4 points per game) and steals (52) while starting 28 games and improving as the season progressed. He averaged 16.3 points in MAC play, ranking fourth in the conference. His breakout game occurred at Northern Illinois on Feb. 5 when he scored a career-high 35 points, including eight three-pointers.
