BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Big Ten Conference will decide in the next few days how severely to punish Indiana basketball coach Mike Davis for his outburst at the end of last Saturday's game against Kentucky.

The conference asked Indiana to suspend Davis, and the school delivered its recommended penalty to the league office in Chicago on Friday.

An Indiana athletic department spokesman said the school would not make its response public until after it heard back from the Big Ten.

Big Ten spokeswoman Sue Lister said the conference did not expect to respond immediately. Conference officials have three business days to decide whether to accept Indiana's plan or order a different punishment, she said. Because of the New Year's holiday, the announcement could come as late as Jan. 2.

Davis reportedly could be suspended for up to six games and receive a public reprimand.

"Whatever they say is fine with me, and the administration has been really supportive, so whatever they decide is fine," Davis said before Friday's practice.

The outburst occurred with 2.6 seconds left in Saturday's game and Indiana trailing 65-64. Hoosiers guard Bracy Wright drove for a layup that bounced off the side of the backboard. Davis wanted a foul, but none was called.

Davis then ran onto the court and protested vehemently, waving his arms at official Bert Smith. He drew two technical fouls and was ejected.

Indiana lost the game 70-64.

The episode unexpectedly brought back memories of Bob Knight, the Hoosiers' volatile ex-coach who won three national titles but was fired in September 2000.

During his postgame news conference, Davis was apologetic, saying his actions cost his team the game. He also apologized to his players and the fans.

Indiana guard Tom Coverdale disagreed with that assessment, and he said Friday it would be unfair for Davis to be suspended for more than one game.

"If you think about what some other coaches have done in the past, and they didn't get suspended at all," Coverdale said. "I think this is happening because it's Indiana University and because of our tradition."

The 10th-ranked Hoosiers (8-1) play at Temple on Saturday. Because of the delay, Davis will be able to coach in the game, which Indiana scheduled because Davis wanted to go head-to-head against the Owls' John Chaney.

Davis said it would have been "disappointing" if he missed the game.

"I admire Coach Chaney, and I wanted to play him every year," Davis said. "When you coach, there are certain coaches you look up to. Coach Chaney is up there with Tubby Smith and John Thompson."