Marcus Smart Suspended Three Games for Fan-Shoving Incident

Marcus Smart, the Oklahoma State guard who shoved a Texas Tech fan Saturday night, will be suspended three games for the incident. ESPN’s Tim Goodman first reported the news. Cowboys coach Travis Ford confirmed it during a press conference at the school Sunday night.

Smart apologized for his actions and accepted responsibility.

Marcus Smart: "No fingers pointed, this is all on me."
— Brian Hamilton (@_Brian_Hamilton) February 9, 2014

Here’s the Big XII statement on the suspension. Fittingly Smart’s first game back after the suspension will be Feb. 22 vs. Texas Tech at the Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater.

Ford wouldn’t comment on what self-described Texas Tech “superfan” Jeff Orr said to Smart that triggered the incident, which should only increase speculation that is already running rampant. Orr issued his own statement on Sunday night saying he calling Smart a, “piece of crap.”

This story probably doesn’t end here since it involves a potential racial element. It will be worth watching if the Smart incident puts more of a spotlight on boorish fan behavior in college basketball, which often crosses a line. For now, the sports world can go back and forth debating whether or not a three-game suspension was too lenient, or not enough.