by Bill DiFilippo / @bflip33
Louisville’s road to repeating just became a little more difficult, as junior forward Chane Behanan has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of university policy.
Behanan is the Cardinals’ leading rebounder and second leading scorer among all returning players. The 6-6 Cincinnati native put up 9.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last year for the Cardinals, including a 15-point, 12-rebound performance in the National Championship game against Michigan.
But due to an unknown violation, coach Rick Pitino told reporters that Behanan will miss at least November.
From ESPN:
“It could be over as early as December, but knowing him, we gave him a list of rules to follow and he’s already broken one of them, so I think it’s possible [he’ll be back], but not probable,” Pitino said.
Behanan has faced discipline before. Last season, he was suspended for the Cardinals’ preseason games and did not start the season-opening win against Manhattan. Pitino also banned the charismatic Behanan from talking to the media for almost the entire non-conference schedule. Pitino said at the time of the 2012 suspension that Behanan’s immaturity led to his punishment.
With Behanan’s suspension, the Cardinals will enter this season without three of its top-four scorers and its top-two rebounders from last season.
