Virginia Tech suspends Washington for one game

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) Virginia Tech suspended forward Deron Washington for one game on Friday, hours after officials saw him appear to drive his foot into the face of a Duke player when the two became entangled.<br> <br> Washington, a starting forward and the Hokies&#39; third-leading scorer with an 11-point average, will miss Saturday&#39;s Atlantic Coast Conference game at Wake Forest.<br> <br> He was ejected from Thursday night&#39;s 80-67 loss to No. 2 Duke for a flagrant foul, which came with 1:30 left after he was fouled by Lee Melchionni.<br> <br> Washington said afterward that he kicked Melchionni unintentionally as he was trying to hurry to get back on his feet. He and coach Seth Greenberg went to Duke&#39;s locker room shortly after the game and apologized to Melchionni and coach Mike Krzyzewski.<br> <br> Tech athletic director Jim Weaver imposed the suspension for ``conduct detrimental to the sport of basketball,&#39;&#39; according to a release from the school. Weaver was out of town and could not be reached for comment, a spokeswoman said.<br> <br> ``Jim Weaver and Seth Greenberg are to be commended for how they have addressed this issue,&#39;&#39; ACC Commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. He said he concurred with Tech&#39;s action, and that the conference would impose no additional punishment.<br> <br> Greenberg said after the game he was disappointed in the way the Hokies conducted themselves, a reference to the play, but that it was out of character for Washington.<br> <br> ``What Deron did last night was wrong and I cannot condone it,&#39;&#39; he said in a statement, calling Washington&#39;s act ``not a reflection of who he really is.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Virginia Tech&#39;s image has taken a beating nationally since the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2, when quarterback Marcus Vick was caught on tape stomping on the left calf of Louisville All-American Elvis Dumervil. Vick was kicked off the team Jan. 6 for the unsportsmanlike conduct as well as a succession of legal problems.<br> <br> (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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