Barlow speaks about bar incident

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Our partner, the Purdue Exponent, is reporting days after being dismissed from the team, Kelsey Barlow spoke out for the first time Monday about what happened.

"I was at the bar and I wasn't supposed to be there," Barlow said.

After being suspended just before the 2011 NCAA Tournament for "conduct detrimental to the team", Barlow has been allowed to return to the team under the condition that he was returning on "thin ice."

After the incident at 'Where Else' Bar early Friday morning, head coach Matt Painter decided Barlow should leave the team.

"He found out that I was at the bar and I was not supposed to be at the bar, so I was dismissed from the team," Barlow said.

Barlow said the decision was made very quickly. He had been contacted by members of the coaching staff immediately after the incident occurred.

"My phone was turned off," Barlow said. "I put my sim card in when I got back and turned it on and I saw I had missed some calls and texts from assistant coaches and stuff like that."

When Barlow attended a meeting with the coaching staff later in the day, the issues were discussed and the final decision was made.

"I went into a meeting at 1:30 and the decision was made there."

Barlow said he is not sure what his plans are now that he is no longer with the team.

"I'll just finish up the semester right now," Barlow said. "It's not an immediate decision about what I'm going to do next."

Barlow's father, Ken Barlow, who played basketball for Norte Dame, said he still fully supports Painter's decision and the basketball program.

"I appreciate all that Coach Painter and all of the coaching staff has done for Kelsey and the Barlow family," Ken Barlow said. "I appreciate it all. It's just an unfortunate situation and hopefully, everything will be better going forward for everybody, for Kelsey and Purdue."

While Ken Barlow said he has not discussed the situation in-depth with Painter or Kelsey, he believes there is not much to discuss. Despite rumors and unconfirmed stories, Ken Barlow said things are much more simple than they are being made out to be.

"There was a situation where he had to get his wallet and, unfortunately, DJ Byrd ended up in trouble and that's it," Ken Barlow said. "I don't think there's much more to it."

Ken Barlow said he does not hold anything against the coaching staff at Purdue.

"I wish nothing but the best for Coach Painter and the team, no question about that and the school," Ken Barlow said. "Purdue, I think, has an outstanding student body, fans and, unfortunately, Kelsey won't be able to continue to participate in that."

Both father and son said Kelsey will remain in classes for the remainder of the semester as education is highly valued in the Barlow family. It is unknown yet if Barlow will look to join another school's team.