As kennesaw state After being accused of point shaving, Owls coach Antoine Pettway turned his attention to the sports betting “predators” who had organized the scheme.
simeon cottleThe preseason Conference USA Player of the Year was one of four active men’s college basketball players, along with 16 former players and six other defendants, charged on January 15 with intentionally underperforming in exchange for money. Cottle, who was averaging 20.2 points per game with the team, was later suspended indefinitely from team activities.
Pettway addressed the allegations after the Owls’ first home game since Cottle was charged, a win 72-69 Above western kentucky On Wednesday. While Pettway said he was not giving a pass to players who took bribes, he expressed greater dismay at the ringleaders of the conspiracy.
“You’re becoming a predator online and you’re reaching out to them, getting these people to mess with you,” Pettway told reporters. “Because there are a lot of people on that list that you feel bad for, that they have a long road ahead of them, because in the darkness, an adult reached out to them and led them down the wrong path.”
According to a federal indictment, Cottle, former Kennesaw State guard Demand Robinson and an unnamed third person received $40,000 for allegedly intentionally underperforming during the first half of a March 2024 game at Queens University.
“I think something needs to be done about these predators that are reaching out to these young guys in college basketball who don’t have a lot and they dangle this money in front of their faces,” Pettway said.
The defendants have been charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and wire fraud in sports competitions. The bribery charge carries a maximum punishment of five years. The fraud charge carries a maximum punishment of up to 20 years.
The Owls have gone 2-2 since the allegations became public, with both wins coming over the Hilltoppers. RJ Johnson Led the Owls with 19 points in Wednesday’s win.
Information from ESPN’s David Purdum was used in this report.
