UWM's Torre Johnson arrested

[MUEng92]

10 stiches sounds substantial to me.

From JSONLINE
The UW-Milwaukee men's basketball player arrested this morning is Torre Johnson, according to the arrest log at the Milwaukee Police Department.

Johnson, 22, remains in custody.

Johnson, a Juneau High School graduate who transferred to UWM from Oklahoma State, has been one of the few bright spots for the Panthers this season. Johnson, a senior, scored 30 points Dec. 6 against Illinois-Chicago. Here is his player bio.

Johnson was arrested early this morning on suspicion of substantial battery after he allegedly hit a woman in the mouth.

At 2:15 a.m., Johnson was involved in an argument with the woman, 23, in the 2300 block of N. Oakland Ave., Capt. Mike Young said.

The victim, who apparently was a friend of the Johnson's girlfriend, required 10 stitches and has been released from the hospital. The suspect was found later by police hiding in a closet in a home near N. 20th St. and W. Capitol Drive, Young said.

The district attorney is expected to review the case Monday, Young said.

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

No surprise.

There were reasons abound why Johnson wasn't recruited out of high school, junior college, and when he was kicked out of OK State. Speaking of, how the hell does someone get kicked off the OK State team considering the troublemakers they've kept on the books before?

[The Lens]

What a shame...I don't know his situation but he has the talent to start for MU or UW and yet in HS, at OK State and now at UWM he is finding ways to sabatage his career.  Just too bad.

[The Lens]

No surprise.

Speaking of, how the hell does someone get kicked off the OK State team considering the troublemakers they've kept on the books before?

Everyone knows Mr Sutton likes his martinis dirty, you skimp on the olive juice and you're done, no 2nd chances.

[Rockmic87]

No offense...but out of all of the talent that comes out of MPS, you never see these kids make it due to off the court problems. The landry's and draelon burns are the one exception currently, since buford and sprewell era. I just don't think that MPS schools teach kids how to handle themselves in off the court issues. Along with Avery Smith of Milw. washington, this is the second incident this year!

Remeber Boo williams randomly leaving UW when he was starting to get real hot! or better yet, whatever happened to Gre Brown!

[MarquetteDano]

Wow.  Not a good year for the UWM program.  The team is not playing well, appeared to quit 3/4 through the Marquette game, their coach is calling out other coaches in the media, and now one of their players is alledged to be knocking around women.

Not a good state of affairs.   

[tower912]

Don't forget, 20 short years ago, MU had a similar situation with Michael 'Pops' Sims.     While it is an unfortunate turn of events for all involved, let us not be too judgemental.   You never know when one of our guys is going to have the wrong set of circumstances cause him to do something stupid.    Not defending the man, but not willing to pile on, either.

[MarquetteDano]

Don't forget, 20 short years ago, MU had a similar situation with Michael 'Pops' Sims.     While it is an unfortunate turn of events for all involved, let us not be too judgemental.   You never know when one of our guys is going to have the wrong set of circumstances cause him to do something stupid.    Not defending the man, but not willing to pile on, either.

Actually, if I recall Damon Key had a incident in the mid 90's', though I don't recall anything as serious as stitches.  I think one incident every 5-10 years I can give a program a pass.  More than that, I do get "judgemental".

I think in the Torre Johnson case, there was definitely a question of character before they brought him on.

On the 'Pops' Sims note, I sat next to him in '88 when I got press floor seats (my Uncle had a connection then).  Man was he quiet.  He came with someone and they barely spoke.  He spoke with me (and that wasn't much) more than he did with his friend.

[only a warrior]

Hiding in a closet after punching a woman and sending her to the hospital.  Geez, at least act like a man and stand up for the punishment you will justly get.  What a loser.

[spiral97]

Actually, if I recall Damon Key had a incident in the mid 90's', though I don't recall anything as serious as stitches.

I remember something about this too.. but can't remember specific details.. no athletic program is immune to incidents.. some just discourage it more with stronger discipline.. though if I remember correctly key wasn't hit much in the way of discipline either.. but those were also somewhat different times with a different coach.

[Avenue Commons]

Actually, if I recall Damon Key had a incident in the mid 90's', though I don't recall anything as serious as stitches.

I remember something about this too.. but can't remember specific details.. no athletic program is immune to incidents.. some just discourage it more with stronger discipline.. though if I remember correctly key wasn't hit much in the way of discipline either.. but those were also somewhat different times with a different coach.

There was an MU player questioned about an alleged sexual assault in 1994 or 1995. The victim making allegations ultimately chose not to pursue charges and the story died. It was a separate player than Key, just to be clear.

[spiral97]

He was dismissed from the team today.  Wow.. I actually have one thing to respect about UW-M now.  To dismiss the leading scorer and rebounder pretty much shows how serious you are about discipline.  Didn't realize he did the exact same thing at the beginning of the season by kicking Avery Smith off too.  Some other team who also call themselves the Panthers could stand for following this example.  (Then again, I also wonder if Jeter did these kick-offs to have a scapegoat for his woes this season.)

Odd timing on Gentry leaving too.

http://hosted.stats.com/cbk/story.asp?i=20071219013832420000101&ref=hea&tm=

MILWAUKEE (AP) Senior forward Torre Johnson, Wisconsin-Milwaukee's leading scorer and rebounder, was dismissed from the team Tuesday after being arrested early Saturday morning.

Milwaukee coach Rob Jeter also said that sophomore guard Roman Gentry left the team for personal reasons.

Johnson, a transfer from Oklahoma State, had been suspended in the immediate aftermath of his arrest on suspicion of battery. The 22-year-old Johnson allegedly hit a woman in the mouth and she needed 10 stitches, police said.

"I have had the chance to speak to Torre and express to him my extreme disappointment in his behavior," Jeter said in a statement. "The conversation also gave me the chance to tell him this was not something we could accept and that he would no longer be a part of our basketball team."

Johnson started all 10 games for the Panthers (3-7) and was averaging 17.8 points and 8.0 rebounds.

Jeter said Gentry wanted to return closer to home in Iowa.

Gentry, averaging 5.1 points per game, started the first four games this season, but played in limited minutes off the bench recently.

Just before the season began, Jeter tossed leading scorer Avery Smith off the team for an unspecified violation of team rules. Smith had been named to the Horizon League's preseason all-conference team.

The Panthers host Central Michigan on Wednesday night.

Johnson, charged Monday with substantial battery, was released on $1,000 signature bond and has a preliminary hearing scheduled Dec. 27 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

[Fullodds]

In the criminal complaint it is alleged that Johnson admitted to punching the woman in the face causing 11 stiches.  He will have a serious uphill legal battle on his hands and may well do time for this.  He is being charged with a felony.  Not sure what sort of plea deal he could get considering the facts...good luck to all involved.

[Ready2Fly]

This is terrible for our RPI.

Too callous?????

[bma725]

He was dismissed from the team today.  Wow.. I actually have one thing to respect about UW-M now.  To dismiss the leading scorer and rebounder pretty much shows how serious you are about discipline.  Didn't realize he did the exact same thing at the beginning of the season by kicking Avery Smith off too.  Some other team who also call themselves the Panthers could stand for following this example.  (Then again, I also wonder if Jeter did these kick-offs to have a scapegoat for his woes this season.)

Sure it shows discipline, but it also shows that you may not be the best judge of character.  First he signs Leneal Harris, who gets pulled over and they discover a gun and drugs in his car, it turns out that he's a drug dealer and he gets a year in jail.  So Jeter takes back the scholarship.  Then Avery Smith.  Nothing criminal, but his attitude was a major problem for the team.  And now Torre Johnson.

He's been the coach there for what 3 years?  This is now the 3rd player kicked off the team for character issues, and two of them were because of criminal acts.  That's not a good sign...though given the incredible amount of turnover there in general it shouldn't be surprising.