Junior forward J.R. Giddens will miss the first term of summer school because he is recovering, at his home in Oklahoma City, from a sliced artery in his right calf, the Lawrence Journal-World reported.

Giddens received the cut during a fight in the parking lot of the Moon Bar, 821 Iowa St., early in the morning of May 19, according to Lawrence police. The police are conducting an investigation to determine the cause and the instigator of the fight, and have no comment at this time, said Sgt. Dan Ward, Lawrence Police Department.

Bill Self, men’s head basketball coach, has said that no decision on whether Giddens will remain on the team has been reached, but that he will be the one making the decision. Self is waiting for the police to conclude their investigation. Self could not be reached for comment yesterday because he attended a charity golf tournament. If Giddens remains on the team, he will be required to follow strict rules of behavior, Self has said.

“We will have rules and things we’ll continue to go over, which will not be privy to the public,” Self said to the Lawrence Journal-World yesterday.

Giddens was one of the six persons injured during the fight. He was allegedly cut by Jeremiah Creswell with a four-inch folding knife. Witnesses said Giddens, along with ten other men, attacked Creswell after the bar had closed. Witnesses have identified two of these men as C.J. Giles, sophomore center, and former KU basketball player Bryant Nash. Giles denied any involvement in the fight, but Nash admitted to punching Creswell in the face, the Lawrence Journal-World reported.

Giddens, Creswell and the rest of the men were at the Moon Bar to celebrate the birthday of its owner, Ron Ruiz. Ruiz had no comment on the incident.

Nicholas Flores, witnessed events inside and outside the bar and said the group approached Creswell first. Flores said Creswell was waiting outside the bar for his ride when Giddens moved toward him yelling “You got a problem?” and “Do you know who I am?” Both Flores and Creswell said Giddens threw the first punch.Shortly after, five men joined in, throwing bottles, bricks, objects and fists. After being struck with an ashtray, Creswell fell to his knees where he allegedly withdrew his folding knife and started flailing. Creswell allegedly said to Jason Whitlock that he was unaware of who he was stabbing.

“It was self-defense,” Flores said to The Kansas City Star last week. “There ain’t no ifs, ands or buts about it.”

Creswell is 5 feet 9 inches tall, and weighs 150 pounds. Giddens is 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds.

Marcus Knight, Lawrence resident, was the first one allegedly cut by Creswell. He became involved in the fight when he saw 10 men on Creswell. Knight said he was mad at Giddens because it was his fight and not Creswell’s.

“I can’t be mad at the dude (Creswell). If 10 to 12 (men) rushed me, — hey, I would’ve pulled a knife, too,” Knight said to The Kansas City Star last week.

Creswell was treated after the fight at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where he received 12 staples on the side of his head.