Slaughter eager to return to court: Two-game suspension due to confusion over summer league's NCAA sanctioning
by Rob Herbst, The Daily News, Bowling Green, Ky. , Bowling Green Daily News
Slaughter is set to return to the court after missing the first two WKU contests while serving a suspension for participating in summer league basketball that was not sanctioned by the NCAA earlier this year in Louisville.
"It's been a long time (waiting for Saturday)," Slaughter said Thursday. "It was kind of frustrating knowing I'm supposed to be the leader of the team and I'm not being out there with team, leading them like I'm supposed to."
Slaughter said the two-game NCAA penalty was the result of some confusion. He played in the same summer league prior to the 2007-08 campaign, when the league was sanctioned. But unbeknownst to Slaughter, the league wasn't sanctioned this past offseason.
Slaughter isn't the only player who faced a penalty for playing in the league. South Alabama guard Domonic Tilford also participated and faced the same two-game suspension.
"I just wish I would have brought it to coach's attention first and just make sure and be positive about it," Slaughter said. "(WKU assistant coach Ray) Harper already told me next time I do anything like that to make sure I go through him."
While Slaughter said it's been a long wait until Saturday, it's also been a long wait for the Hilltoppers.
WKU is 1-1, but without its leading returning scorer from last year, it's dealt with offensive struggles in both its contests against Houston and Campbellsville.
The Hilltoppers shot less than 40 percent from the field in their 62-48 win over Campbellsville on Tuesday and shot 41 percent -- plus committed 20 turnovers -- against Houston last weekend.
"He definitely adds everything we need to the team ...," McDonald said. "He can score the ball, he can shoot, he can penetrate, he can create shots for others. Another important aspect is, he's probably our best defender on the ball."
Slaughter's playmaking ability is among the biggest boosts for the Hilltoppers, according to guard/forward Sergio Kerusch. Without someone able to create shots for teammates, opposing defenses didn't have as much trouble against WKU in the first two contests.
"A.J. is a good penetrator and he gives the shooters more time to set up their shots and get into it," Kerusch said. "The last couple of games we had a hard time with the defense pressuring our shooters. He's going to free up a lot of defenses and help others get shots."
WKU particularly missed Slaughter against Houston -- in McDonald's opinion, the Hilltoppers probably would have picked up a season-opening road win with Slaughter on the court. WKU held a 10-point lead against the Cougars, but struggled down the stretch, making one field goal over the final 5:27.
"The last five minutes we struggled to score and you could see it out there," McDonald said. "And he stays in front of the ball better. He would have impacted that game in a lot of ways."
But instead of helping the Hilltoppers pull out a win at Houston, Slaughter had to listen to the game on the radio and watch a video feed over the Internet.
He was on the bench in WKU's home opener on Tuesday.
"It was kind of rough sitting there and watching my team play, knowing I couldn't go in the game and help them out," Slaughter said. "I had to do the best I could in being vocal and try to lead them from the bench."
To see more of the Bowling Green Daily News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.bgdailynews.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Daily News, Bowling Green, Ky. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
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