By MIKE McCURRY
Already undermanned, No. 6 Louisville will be without Deng Adel and Mangok Mathiang for Monday’s game at No. 9 Virginia, after the frontcourt duo was suspended for breaking curfew following Saturday’s win at Boston College.
“After we returned to Louisville, I boarded the team bus and told them how proud I was of them, but the most important thing now is to get their rest as we had an early morning practice and had to travel,” said head coach Rick Pitino in a statement. “For some reason, Mangok and Deng chose to break curfew and were out very late. This is an extremely big game for our basketball team and it would be an understatement to say that I am extremely disappointed in both young men. That being said, we will move forward and put forth a great effort with a depleted team.”
The Cardinals (19-4), tied for third in the ACC standings with the Cavaliers (17-5) at 7-3, are down to seven scholarship players now. Point guards Quentin Snider (hip flexor) and Tony Hicks (broken bone in hand) are also currently sidelined.
– Lost 2 scholarships (NCAA)
– Quentin Snider out
– Tony Hicks out
– Mangok benched
– Deng benched
7 scholarship players vs. UVA tonight— Howie Lindsey (@howielindsey) February 6, 2017
Adel, who dropped a career-high 19 points on Saturday, is averaging 11.1 points this season.
Mathiang, who puts up 7.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per night, has averaged nearly 13 + 8 over his past five contests. The 6-foot-10 senior has been stripped of his captaincy due to the suspension, with Donovan Mitchell taking over that role.
Photo: Getty Images
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