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Trash-talk starting to mar ACC games

Duke junior forward Dahntay Jones' fastbreak dunk to all but seal a win against at Clemson on Saturday evening should have been a highlight. Instead, it became a lowlight.

The Tigers called timeout after the play and Jones, as he trotted to his bench, said something to his opponents Clemson coach Larry Shyatt didn't appreciate. Irate, he stormed toward midcourt to confront Jones.

That wasn't the only time that has occurred in the Atlantic Coast Conference of late.

Two nights earlier, Maryland coach Gary Williams took offense to Virginia freshman point guard Keith Jenifer lingering near the Terrapins bench when timeout was called. Words were exchanged, and Virginia assistant Walt Fuller thrust himself into the scene and only made matters worse. And more embarrassing.

The ACC reprimanded Fuller and Shyatt for unsportsmanlike conduct Tuesday. It also suspended North Carolina State freshman guard Julius Hodge for blatantly hitting Maryland junior point guard Steve Blake in the head during a game Sunday.

"This is intended to send a loud a clear message that college basketball in the Atlantic Coast Conference is not going to be played in the way exhibited by these behaviors," league commissioner John Swofford said.

Some are worried this might not be the last time a league has to resort to sanctions.

"Throughout the country, there's been more talking between players and coaches and things like that," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said.

Krzyzewski said the media dramatizes such incidents so players have begun to believe they are a part of gamesmanship, blurring the line between spirited play and disparaging antics.

"It's always been there and it always will be there because of the competitive nature of the game," he said. "What we have to do is make sure it doesn't become a prominent part of the game."

No matter what a league may mandate, it will fall on the referees to diffuse potentially volatile situations and, most of all, the coaches to control their players and themselves.

"It's good to have some (emotional) license, but you have to draw a line in the sand and we've crossed it a couple of times," Virginia coach Pete Gillen said. "I'm not blaming anybody, but we've all got to do a better 'cause we have to respect the game."

WHERE'S WILLIAMS? Illinois junior guard Frank Williams, the 2001 Big Ten player of the year, was considered a national player of the year candidate andwas a big reason folks tabbed his team as a national championship contender. People aren't saying either now.

Williams has struggled and, worse, has looked disinterested. He invited criticism after admitting he didn't give 100 percent in a loss against Michigan State last weekend. In his past four games, he has made 13 of 53 shots (24 percent).

The Fighting Illini lost three.

"I don't think he's playing with much emotion or much energy," coach Bill Self said before Thursday's win at Michigan. "That definitely affects performance. ... I'm not putting it all on Frank, but I do think he can do a much better job of really playing with passion and energy because he's playing for money (as a possible NBA lottery pick) ... and there doesn't seem to be that get up and go about him that there should be."

TWENTY-SOMETHINGS: Conference USA's Cincinnati, Memphis and Marquette all have at least 20 wins. Only one other league has as many as two, the Big East (Miami and Pittsburgh).

HE'S NOT JUST BILL'S KID: Arizona junior forward Luke Walton, the son of the legendary Bill, entered the week leading the Pac-10 in assists (6.11) and fourth in rebounds (7.9). Since 1979, three players have finished in the top 10 in the league in both categories: Washington's Detlef Schrempf (1985), Arizona's Sean Elliott (1988 and 1989) and Jud Buechler (1990).

- Brian Landman covers men's college basketball. He can be reached at landman@sptimes.com or at (813) 226-3347.

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