Maurice \Boo"" Wade, a UW-Madison sophomore and Badgers men's basketball guard, was released from jail Thursday. He was arrested Wednesday on tentative charges of substantial battery.
Wade remains suspended from basketball games and practices in accordance with the Athletic Department's discipline policy, under which an arrest is immediate grounds for suspension. His attorney, Steve Hurley, said they will appeal the suspension.
""My goal is to have my client walk away and play ball, because he hasn't done anything wrong,"" Hurley told reporters.
Wade's arrest came after assault allegations from a 19-year-old Madison woman. The woman said Wade came to her house and tried to choke her with his hands at least twice and once from behind with his forearm, according to a police report. The report also said the woman was then treated for neck injuries at a local hospital.
Wade was released on signature bond, which means he did not have to post money to be released. Dane County Court Commissioner Todd Meurer set Wade free on the conditions that he not have any contact with the woman who accused him except through a lawyer and that he reappear in court Feb. 12.
Hurley emphasized that no formal charges had been brought against Wade. According to Hurley, the potential charge of substantial battery means that a victim suffered a degree of bodily harm.
The Athletic Department's Student-Athlete Discipline Policy came into effect last August and encompasses all sports, replacing a system in which each sport had its own policy.
Wade did not play in Wednesday night's victory over Minnesota because of the suspension. Head Coach Bo Ryan said Wade is suspended ""indefinitely"" from the team and that he could not comment further because of privacy laws.
""[Wade's arrest and suspension] is within the team as far as the situation goes, but we are just playing it out and waiting to see what happens,"" UW men's basketball senior guard Freddie Owens said. ""There is nothing we can do about the situation but come out and win games.""
-Arvind Gopalratnam and Kristen Titus contributed
to this report
