Long Island Players Reinstated, Will Miss First 2 NEC Games

Long Island University announced Monday that the four players that were suspended following an on-campus fight, have been reinstated by the school. Northeast Conference player of the year Julian Boyd, Jamal Olasewere, C.J. Garner and Troy Joseph all had their indefinite suspensions overturned after the appeals process.

In statement released by the school, provost Gale Stevens-Haynes outlined the remaining punishments for the four players:

"After careful consideration of the appeals of four members of our men's basketball team who were suspended for their involvement in a Sept. 15 altercation on campus, the university has lifted the suspensions and placed the student-athletes on probation, requiring that they continue to participate in an anger management program and undergo counseling, as well as perform community service."

In addition, the four players will miss the first two games of the conference season, against Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart.

This is a big change from the type of punishment that was being discussed for the four just a few days ago, punishment that according to one source included the word "expelled".

With the top three players from last season back, Long Island is again in the mix for the Northeast title, although the road will be slightly tougher given that the suspensions are for the first two conference games. This does mean that the Blackbirds will likely begin the season in a hole, but could work still work their way into a nice seed in the conference tournament depending on the regular season contests with Wagner and Robert Morris.