Memphis coach Pastner suspends Woodson indefinitely for cursing
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Memphis coach Josh Pastner has suspended reserve forward Dominic Woodson indefinitely for cursing during the 20th-ranked Tigers' latest victory.
Pastner sent Woodson to the locker room during the second half of Wednesday night's 76-70 win over UCF after hearing the freshman cursing on the bench. Pastner said Thursday that Woodson, averaging 2.6 points a contest, will not practice, travel with the team or attend games. The coach has even cleaned out Woodson's locker.
''He lost the privilege to be part of traveling, playing in games, locker room,'' Pastner said. ''That's a privilege, not a right. It's not a birthright to be on that. It's a big-time privilege. Part of that suspension is you lose that privilege.''
The suspension means the 6-foot-10, 310-pound Woodson will not be flying with the Tigers on Friday when they head to Connecticut for a game Saturday with the No. 24 Huskies (19-5, 7-4 American Athletic Conference). Woodson has played in 18 games this season for Memphis (19-5, 8-3) averaging 2.6 points with 37 total rebounds.
Pastner said he has disciplined the freshman before for his foul language and that he will not tolerate Woodson's relapses with ''his vocabulary'' when women and children are around.
The coach said Woodson will have to make some changes before he returns to the team.
''When the behavior doesn't change, I believe you now have to change the consequences and make them more severe,'' Pastner said. ''So that's where we're at. The suspension's indefinite, and we'll go from there.''
Pastner said he will decide when Woodson will be reinstated and that the freshman now has to accept responsibility and be accountable.
