Devoe Joseph Suspended Indefinitely

by PJS on Nov 12, 2010 10:53 AM CST in Gopher Basketball

And this isn't the news we wanted to read on the first day of the Gophers' men's basketball season

Devoe Joseph has been suspended indefinitely because of off-court issues, Smith said Thursday. The standout junior, who led the Gophers to the Big Ten tournament title game in March, will not travel to Puerto Rico, where the team will participate in next week's Puerto Rico Tipoff, featuring North Carolina and West Virginia.

"He had some off-the-court issues and some other things we had to deal with," Smith said. "And he's working his way through it. Hopefully he'll do all the things required of him to get back in good grace. He'll be practicing, but he won't be traveling. I don't want to get into all the particulars, but there are some things he's got to address. He's committing to doing it. We're certainly going to miss him, especially for the foreseeable future. And hopefully he gets what he has to get done so he can get back on the board at some point in time during season. And at this stage, I'm not sure when that will be."

Smith would not say how many games he expects Joseph to miss but called the suspension "long term." But even if he returns after the Puerto Rico trip, he'll miss at least five regular-season games.

This is a tremendous blow for the Gophers, who many of us had hoped would have a drama-free 2010-11 campaign, after off-the-court issues for Royce White, Trevor Mbakwe and Al Nolen overshadowed the team for much of last year. For an unspecified period of time, the Gophers have lost arguably their best player.

The Gophers will face Wofford, sans Joseph tonight at Williams Arena.

One last comment, and I'm sure some will disagree, but it would be nice if Tubby Smith shed more light on these situations then he does. The reasons why will be speculated on for the weeks ahead and things will be said about Devoe that are probably not true. Everyone might stand to benefit from a little more transparency here.

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Comments

I do disagree

I don’t think Tubby has to tell the world about a player’s specific personal issues. He says that they are off the court issues that need to be addressed. I think that is all that needs to be said.

I understand the point about people speculating about things that are not true, but it is still all speculation. As a player, I would not appreciate my coach airing all of my dirty laundry. I think that would cause a large rift between player and coach.

by rencito on Nov 12, 2010 7:22 AM CST reply actions

And...

Telling the particulars would leave Tubby open to questions. Fans would argue whether or not he is being too heavyhanded for said problems. And he may have the same problem with another player later and a similar punishment might be expected even though a different approach may be necessary in that instance.

Mark 8:36

by lonebadger on Nov 12, 2010 8:09 AM CST reply actions

Tubby

… I don’t think there is anything wrong with Tubby being opened up to questions.

Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher

by PJS on Nov 12, 2010 8:28 AM CST up reply actions

Privacy Issues

There are laws that protect a student’s privacy. Most coaches follow them. Tubby does, too.

by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 13, 2010 10:01 AM CST up reply actions

They need...

Ralph, Trevor and Colton to assert themselves in a big way.

by tc_brent on Nov 12, 2010 9:49 AM CST reply actions

On the bright side ....

…. we’ll probably get a longer glimpse at Austin Hollins. Tubby has praised him leading up to the season. I’m eager to see him play, and he probably has to take a step up in the rotation early on. …

Plus, selfishly, I have Austin in a Big Ten only fantasy hoops league!

Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher

by PJS on Nov 12, 2010 10:59 AM CST up reply actions

assuming it is academics

then I am all for this move. I’d much rather have DJ sit for five games now and get this take care of than lose him half-way through the Big Ten season like we did last year with Nolen.

I get PJS’s point that we don’t KNOW it is academics so I’m adding to the speculation. But I also think this is the norm in college athletics.

what you say here can, and will, be used against you The Daily Gopher

by GopherNation on Nov 12, 2010 10:05 AM CST reply actions

Wofford game

line has dropped from 9.5 to 8.5 and that is probably justified. This is going to be a tough game. Gophers win by 4.

by Garrick on Nov 12, 2010 11:58 AM CST reply actions

I realize

It would be much more convenient for us, the fans, to have all these issues discussed publicly, but the fact remains that this is a 21 year old kid who isn’t getting paid to play. I don’t think it would be fair to embarrass him publicly.

Also, I don’t know if he’s our best player. If he is, there are about 4 others who are just as good, and that’s what makes me optimistic about the gophers this year.

"If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be." - Yogi Berra

by mnbrewer on Nov 12, 2010 12:11 PM CST reply actions

ESPN Podcast

Not sure if anyone caught the 11/5 college basketball podcast. Andy Katz is apparently enamored with the Gophers. They talk about our squad quite a bit.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/archive?id=2689788

by rencito on Nov 12, 2010 1:00 PM CST reply actions