Why Grayson Allen's one-game suspension is fair

Let the punishment fit the crime, as the adage goes.

Grayson Allen's one-game suspension - after Duke called his ban "indefinite" - actually fits, despite the outrage that emerged when the guard appeared to be caught deliberately tripping an opponent once again.

Let's start with the obvious fact that Mike Krzyzewski might know what he's doing after all these years. But let's focus first on what Allen did: He committed flagrant fouls. They were dirty, egregious fouls, but they were committed in the field of play.

Tripping in soccer earns you a yellow card. In hockey, it gets you two minutes, although the equivalent to Allen's trips might be slew footing, which is similarly dangerous and has earned equally short suspensions.

There is a precedent of sorts in basketball: Draymond Green, who was suspended for one game because of of his blatant and painful retaliation problem. The Golden State Warrior received a one-game ban during the NBA Finals last year after the league saw one too many blows to opposing groins.

For Krzyzewski, there's another reason just one game was the right call: What makes Allen so effective on the court - aside from his play on both ends - is the competitive fire that fuels the Blue Devils and infuriates opponents, throwing them off their games. Calling the suspension "indefinite" (it technically lasted over two weeks) and stripping Allen of his captaincy is a wakeup call, just enough of one to make sure Allen understands that deliberate tripping is the line not to cross again. But it's not too much of a punishment to throw water on a furnace that doesn't stop burning.

And if it doesn't stop Allen from crossing that line? Krzyzewski must sit him for longer to prove ending the ban wasn't just conveniently done as ACC play begins … as well as to continue teaching Allen what's acceptable.

"There are things that you see or the public see, and there are things that you all don't see and shouldn't see or shouldn't be talked about, and they're called teachings," Krzyzewski said to ESPN on Wednesday. "You don't need to teach out in the public all the time."

Let's see if Allen's learned from what ended up being a fair punishment.