MINNEAPOLIS -- Hours before opening the regular season, the University of Minnesota men's basketball team suspended forward Maurice Walker on Friday for six games.
Walker, a junior, will miss games through Nov. 26 when Minnesota is in Hawaii for the Maui Invitational. Walker, 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, had lost 60 pounds coming into this season and look poised to add a post presence for the Gophers, who opened the season Friday at home against Lehigh.
"Mo's a loss and every guy on the team is going to have to do a little bit to keep up," coach Richard Pitino said. "But we support Mo. We love Mo, can’t wait to get him back in Maui. He’s going to be a big help to our basketball team.”
Walker has played in 42 games in his Minnesota career after missing the 2011-12 season while recovering from knee surgery. In 30 games last season, Walker averaged 2.2 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
Walker, coming off the bench, averaged 13 points in the Gophers' two exhibition games this season. He had 17 points and 13 rebounds in 24 minutes in a win against Concordia-St. Paul on Monday.
Walker's absence leaves Minnesota with only junior center Elliot Eliason inside.
Friday was a tough day for the Gophers, who also lost out on prized recruit Reid Travis. Travis announced his intentions to go to Stanford next year.
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