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Texas A&M Basketball

Robert Williams suspended for three games, Gilder and Hogg for one

November 3, 2017
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Texas A&M players Robert Williams, Admon Gilder and DJ Hogg have been suspended for violating university policy. Williams, a 6’9” sophomore recently named co-SEC Preseason Player of the Year, has been suspended for three games while Gilder and Hogg will sit out one, Friday's exhibition contest against Tarleton State.

Williams, the SEC's Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman and a projected NBA lottery pick last spring, surprised many by choosing to return to A&M for his sophomore season. He will not travel with the team to Germany next week, missing the season opener against #11 West Virginia at Ramstein Air Base. He also will sit for the home opener at Reed Arena against UCSB.

In September, the team announced a five-game suspension for freshman point guard JJ Caldwell, who won't suit up until November 24 against Pepperdine.

With four key players missing for tonight's exhibition, head coach Billy Kennedy will rely on Tyler Davis and Tonny Trocha-Morelos to lead a guard-oriented and very young team. Expect to see freshmen TJ Starks and Savion Flagg and Marquette graduate transfer Duane Wilson inserted into the starting lineup tonight, with fellow freshmen Jay Jay Chandler and Isiah Jasey seeing meaningful playing time. I also anticipate Chris Collins will get some minutes against Tarleton and likely throughout non-conference play.

Suspensions are never good news, and the hope is that Kennedy's firm action with three key players will curb any further interruptions to what could be a special season for the Aggies. If there is an upside to the situation, it's that a talented crop of newcomers looking to earn playing time will gain early experience and have a chance to show what they're capable of contributing.

The official release from Texas A&M:

COLLEGE STATION – The Aggie men's basketball program announced the suspensions of three student-athletes for violations of Texas A&M policy.  Admon Gilder, D.J. Hogg and Robert Williams will sit out tonight's exhibition game against Tarleton State.

Hogg and Gilder will return for the season-opening contest against West Virginia on Nov. 10 while Williams is slated to return to the court Nov. 20 against Oklahoma State.

“Unfortunately, young people make mistakes. We will handle this matter internally and move on as a program,” Texas A&M head coach Billy Kennedy said.

Discussion from...

Robert Williams suspended for three games, Gilder and Hogg for one

38,689 Views | 37 Replies | Last: 7 yr ago by expresswrittenconsent
Zombie
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6:11p, 11/3/17
What the hell is going on???
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Captn_Ag05
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6:13p, 11/3/17
AG
Disappointed in these guys.
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Bunk Moreland
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6:22p, 11/3/17
Woah. What a shocker.
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GE
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6:24p, 11/3/17
AG
Not as bad as it could be. Only really damaging thing is missing Robert for the WVU game. Thank goodness this happened now instead of tomorrow
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CactusThomas
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6:30p, 11/3/17
AG
So weird that threads get deleted until staff has an article.
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12thMan2012
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In reply to CactusThomas • 6:32p, 11/3/17
AG
CactusThomas said:
So weird that threads get deleted until staff has an article.


Shouldn't be surprised. Kennedy is the most protected coach at A&M.
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GrayMatter
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6:37p, 11/3/17
AG
Disappointed in Admon. He's one of the leaders. He should know better.
The conversations will be uncomfortable, but we all have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable for progress to be made.
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Uncle Jimbo
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6:43p, 11/3/17
And to think I was getting excited about this season.
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Belton Ag
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6:46p, 11/3/17
AG
More stellar news out of this Billy Kennedy led program.
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jml2621
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7:15p, 11/3/17
Prolly weed.

Hyman's gone, too.
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Ol Jock 99
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In reply to Belton Ag • 7:17p, 11/3/17
AG
Belton Ag said:
More stellar news out of this Billy Kennedy led program.
There are a lot of things I'll blame BK for; young adults who know better **smoking up** isn't one of them.

**allegedly
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DifferenceMaker Ag
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7:27p, 11/3/17
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Belton Ag
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In reply to Ol Jock 99 • 7:31p, 11/3/17
AG
Ol Jock 99 said:
Belton Ag said:
More stellar news out of this Billy Kennedy led program.
There are a lot of things I'll blame BK for; young adults who know better **smoking up** isn't one of them.

**allegedly


I don't blame Kennedy for this. But these types of incidents are hard to swallow with a coach that's already on shaky ground; and don't think this won't be a (however small) factor in determining his future. He just can't get out of his own way.
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12thMan2012
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In reply to Ol Jock 99 • 8:15p, 11/3/17
AG
Whatever. He's got a roster of what, 15 guys? A coach getting paid $2,000,000 per year that sells himself as a coach that "builds men off the court" can absolutely be blamed for not being able to get a roster of 15 to pass a drug test.
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GrayMatter
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8:21p, 11/3/17
AG
Lets not turn this into a BK issue. They know the rules and willingly broke them. They were reprimanded. End of story.
The conversations will be uncomfortable, but we all have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable for progress to be made.
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CactusThomas
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In reply to GrayMatter • 8:25p, 11/3/17
AG
Thank you.
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Wicked Good Ag
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10:09p, 11/3/17
Regardless of your feelings in BK leading the program now and in the future the fact that you are upset at a coach saying DWIs and failing drug tests are unacceptable and are to be punished but we will make fun of a coach who lets a player play with a concussion in the football field is amazing to me. Either you want the coaching staff to hold adults accountable or you don't. Either you want the coach to do the right thing or you want to win at all costs. The two players that will miss the West Virginia game are being held accountable for things they should be held accountable for

Or you can be like t.u. who allows a player (volleyball starter) with a DWI IN THE SAME MANNER (underage) continue to play with no outside punishment

You should be asking why is Williams three games and the other two only one.
I am sure everyone would be saying they have to sit out to learn a lesson if they were the 13/14/15th player off the bench but starters do it and it is BK's fault? Cmon quit smoking what they are
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LouisHerbertWong
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9:32a, 11/4/17
AG
Buttheads, all of them. Great start to the season...
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fightinags2013
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12:17p, 11/4/17
AG
**obligatory "it's just weed- what's the big deal?" post**
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Pumpkinhead
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4:07p, 11/4/17
AG
Interesting additional comment by Logan on this that I'll pass along. All of the violations that caused these suspensions occurred in the early part of the summer. Was not something that happened recently.
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Bunk Moreland
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In reply to Pumpkinhead • 4:13p, 11/4/17
Pumpkinhead said:
Interesting additional comment by Logan on this that I'll pass along. All of the violations that caused these suspensions occurred in the early part of the summer. Was not something that happened recently.


Which is even more pathetic that 1) no one covering aggie basketball knew about it, and 2) when it was clearly public news this week all media didn't report it until the program decided it was OK for texags to release the info.

Not bashing TA here. I understand their "special" relationship with the AD and they aren't true journalists. But what does that say about the local media when half this board knew what was going to happen for 3 days and nothing from local media about it.

Just pathetic coverage of the basketball program, or everyone is OK with protecting BK. Or both.
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Isaih Smollett
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9:20p, 11/4/17
I'm sure all of this will come in handy for BK when we underachieve
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jml2621
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In reply to Pumpkinhead • 9:57p, 11/4/17
Pumpkinhead said:
Interesting additional comment by Logan on this that I'll pass along. All of the violations that caused these suspensions occurred in the early part of the summer. Was not something that happened recently.

Why the wait?
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jml2621
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10:24p, 11/4/17
I'll just say it.

Underage drinking and weed are both illegal. Ethanol is far more likely to take the life of the user, or far worse someone else than THC.

Yet virtually no one is suspended for underage drinking, which is ubiquitous. Therefore targeting weed is stoopid. It would be different if a kid is using cocaine, speed, hGH, anabolic steroids, etc. Those need to be cleaned up before NCAA drug testing, or their health is endangered. A DWI, regardless of what pharmaceutical use, would be a different story and would warrant a significant suspension, like JJ has received...because it endangers the lives of others. (I should note that JJ was not found guilty)

Anyway, hope all have learned just not to risk a potentially great season.

Still dumb.
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94chem
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8:55a, 11/6/17
Quote:
Underage drinking and weed are both illegal. Ethanol is far more likely to take the life of the user, or far worse someone else than THC.
Maybe so, but even if it's legalized, why don't you smoke some, and then come to my job and take a drug test? See how long you stay employed. Get ready for a life of pushing a mower...or maybe teaching. I don't recall teachers being tested, but maybe they are.
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Wicked Good Ag
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9:14a, 11/6/17
Teachers are tested
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CactusThomas
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In reply to Wicked Good Ag • 9:17a, 11/6/17
AG
Most are not.
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GE
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In reply to 94chem • 9:24a, 11/6/17
AG
94chem said:
Quote:
Underage drinking and weed are both illegal. Ethanol is far more likely to take the life of the user, or far worse someone else than THC.
Maybe so, but even if it's legalized, why don't you smoke some, and then come to my job and take a drug test? See how long you stay employed. Get ready for a life of pushing a mower...or maybe teaching. I don't recall teachers being tested, but maybe they are.
Or making millions working in finance.
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94chem
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9:59a, 11/6/17
Quote:
Or making millions working in finance.
That seems likely.
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Pumpkinhead
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10:03a, 11/6/17
AG
Arguing that a rule is stupid is never a good excuse to break the rule, not if breaking that rule is going to significantly cost you if you get caught.

Robert Williams in particular has millions of dollars on the line in terms of NBA draft slots. Failing drug tests for smoking pot and getting suspended games can possibly cost him significant $$$. Incredibly stupid to smoke pot. End of story.
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GE
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In reply to 94chem • 10:27a, 11/6/17
AG
94chem said:
Quote:
Or making millions working in finance.
That seems likely.
As or more likely than either of those three guys making a living pushing a mower.
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strbrst777
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8:52p, 11/8/17
Hey, they do know better. Don't care about the coach,teammates or fans. Selfish...and dumb!
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CapCityAg89
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In reply to Bunk Moreland • 10:44p, 11/8/17
AG
There is little to no way this "protects BK". Literally nothing to protect him from. Really it's protecting the kids - instead of a story with two months (or whatever) legs, it has a few days.

It makes it seem more likely to me that the situation happened. The kids got busted. The kids were handed their punishment and apparently handled it the right way as nothing further (kicked off the team) happened.

Aside from disappointment that it happened at all I think it was handled fine.
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txag72
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1:31p, 11/9/17
AG
Hogg...............strike..............
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