South Carolina Basketball: SEC refuses to suspend player after dirtiest play of SEC season

South Carolina basketball returned to the win column on Saturday with a win over the Ole Miss Rebels. The Gamecocks were in control the entire game, and their defense frustrated the Rebel offense.

That frustration boiled over for one particular Ole Miss player on Saturday as guard Allen Flanigan came down the court and delivered an unprovoked elbow to the head of Gamecock wing Zach Davis. The attack was essentially a punch with the elbow and resulted in an immediate whistle. Davis, though angry, did not retaliate, and Flanigan was ejected after a review.

A less egregious event marred the Alabama-Florida game last week, and Mohamed Wague was suspended for a game for his actions.

However, for reasons no one quite understands, the SEC has done absolutely nothing to Allen Flanigan and plans to do absolutely nothing to Allen Flanigan.

Perhaps the conference believes Flanigan's ejection was enough of a punishment (Wague was not ejected for his actions). That belief would be misguided as the Gamecocks were firmly in control in the 2nd half whenever Flanigan took a swing at Davis. Fans from all over the country have called for a suspension for Flanigan, but based on a statement from the league, they will not suspend him.

If Flanigan, indeed, is allowed to play, it gives Ole Miss an added boost for their mid-week game against Alabama this week as he is one of the team's top-2 scorers (along with guard Matthew Murrell). The Rebels are playing with their backs against the wall as they need to finish strong in order to have a realistic shot of making the NCAA Tournament.

Frankly, South Carolina basketball would like Ole Miss to beat Alabama as the Gamecocks need the Crimson Tide to lose again to have a chance at winning the SEC regular season title, and the chances of that happening without Flanigan don't seem very high. However, the former Auburn Tiger deserves to be suspended.

Alabama and Ole Miss don't play until Wednesday, so the SEC has another day to announce the discipline.

South Carolina basketball will take on the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station on Wednesday. The game will tip off at 8:30 PM EST and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.