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Przybilla suspended Big Ten player of week cited for 'academic thing'
Posted: Tuesday February 15, 2000 07:59 PM
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Just a day after being selected Big Ten Player of the Week, Minnesota center Joel Przybilla was suspended indefinitely from the team for failing to meet academic requirements, Gophers coach Dan Monson said during practice Tuesday. Monson did not immediately specify what standards Przybilla did not meet, other than to say the sophomore 7-footer fell short of team rules in several areas. Przybilla did not attend practice Tuesday. Monson said the suspension will last as long as the problem exists. "There's a definite lack of commitment," Monson said. "There's more than one thing. But I'm not going to elaborate much more than that. It's an academic thing. He's got to commit to academics or he's not going to be a part of this." Monson said he had previously discussed the problem with Przybilla, who was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday for a 33-point, 14-rebound effort in the Gophers' upset win against Indiana. The sophomore was averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds in Big Ten play this season. "I've met with him before on it, and he knew that these were the consequences if he didn't meet his team rules on academics, and he hasn't fulfilled his obligations," Monson said. When asked how many warnings Przybilla had received, Monson replied, "plenty." "The decision shouldn't be a surprise for him," Monson said. If Przybilla decides to forgo his final two years of college eligibility, he would be a projected lottery pick in the NBA draft in June. "Right now I think it's disappointing and I think his teammates are disappointed," Monson said. Monson took over in July as coach of the Gophers, inheriting a program that is under NCAA investigation for allegations of academic fraud. The allegations cost former coach Clem Haskins his job, as well as resulting in the team being banned from postseason play this year. In November, Przybilla also missed a practice and a preseason game for what he called personal reasons.
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