USC Athletics

USC junior forward Chimezie Metu has been ordered by Trojan head coach Andy Enfield to sit out the first half of USC's next game, surrender his captaincy and issue a letter of apology as a result of Metu's ejection from Sunday's (Dec. 31) game against Washington State.

The discipline enacted on Metu was approved by the Pac-12, which will take no further action.

Metu was ejected late in the first half of USC's 89-71 victory over the Cougars for his flagrant foul against WSU guard Carter Skaggs.

Metu will sit out the first half of USC's game at California this Thursday (Jan. 4).

In his letter sent to Skaggs, Metu apologized to the player, WSU coach Ernie Kent and the Cougar basketball family, as well as to his USC teammates and fans and his family.  He acknowledged his inappropriate action, saying "a lack of judgment for a split second led to an action that I immediately regretted and had no business committing in the first place.  I understand there is no place in the game of basketball for such an unsportsmanlike action."

He also wrote that he is "prepared to take any necessary steps to ensure that I am not involved in such an incident moving forward."