Tech suspends Allen for U.Va. game

BLACKSBURG -- For the second time in Jeff Allen's two seasons at Virginia Tech, his unsportsmanlike behavior has earned him a suspension.

Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver yesterday suspended Allen for tomorrow's game at Virginia -- the result of him making an obscene gesture at fans after he fouled out of Saturday's 83-73 loss at Maryland.

"Jeff Allen's gesture after he fouled out was inappropriate and unacceptable and not reflective of our Hokies Respect Campaign," Weaver said in a press release announcing the suspension.

Allen, a 21-year-old sophomore forward, has been a starter since he arrived at Tech. He is the Hokies' third-leading scorer this season (14.5 points per game) and leading rebounder (8.8 per game). The Hokies rank 10th in the 12-team ACC in rebounding (37.3 per game).

With six games remaining in the regular season, the Hokies are 6-4 in the ACC (16-8 overall) and still are trying to strengthen their résumé for the NCAA tournament. After tomorrow, they play five games against four teams currently ranked 20th or higher in the Ratings Percentage Index. Virginia (2-8 ACC) is 90th.

Last season, the ACC suspended Allen for two games for intentionally bumping official Zelton Steed after he fouled out of a game at Georgia Tech. Without Allen, the Hokies lost at home to No. 4 Duke and won at Boston College.

Tech coach Seth Greenberg did not speak after practice about who would take Allen's minutes, but sophomore forward J.T. Thompson expects to fill at least some of Allen's role, as he did when Allen was suspended last season. Thompson is Tech's fourth-leading scorer (4.9 points per game) and averages 3.6 rebounds.

"With Jeff missing, there's going to be a lot of other stuff missing, too, like his intensity on the floor," Thompson said. "So I'm going to try to bring a little bit of that. . . . It's disappointing. We're going to miss him on Wednesday. But he will be back."

Thompson backed up Allen last season at the power forward spot, but he has played mostly small forward this season. He has practiced at both forward positions since sophomore Dorenzo Hudson replaced him in the starting lineup three games ago. Thompson said he still must learn two more plays at power forward.

Before yesterday, Greenberg had not publicly addressed Allen's obscene gesture, which Raycom Sports television cameras caught as Allen walked to the bench with 3:15 remaining.

"I was extremely disappointed in Jeff Allen's actions as he was leaving the court at the University of Maryland on Saturday night," Greenberg said in the release, which mentioned that Tech would have no further comment on the incident. "I, in no way, condone his behavior and will deal with it appropriately. Jeff knows better and is extremely remorseful about the incident and apologizes for his actions."

Said Allen, according to the release: "I would like to apologize to all that were offended by my actions this past weekend. I know that type of behavior is unacceptable. It was a lapse in judgment during the heat of the moment."

Sophomore guard Malcolm Delaney has emerged this season as the Hokies' main leader, and he made it clear yesterday that they would weather Allen's suspension together.

"We're a team," he said. "One person, that doesn't mean nothing. We're a good team, and one person doesn't bring a team down."