Jayhawks coach Bill Self said per NCAA rules, Tharpe would have needed prior approval to play in that game.
With Tharpe out, freshman Frank Mason is expected to start in his place. Mason was just a 3-star prospect coming out of high school, but the Jayhawks liked his toughness enough to recruit him.
“Mason’s going to put pressure on everybody to be better,” Self told Sporting News in July. “He wants it so bad … Our workouts have been so competitive.”
It will be interesting to see how the freshman responds to such a spotlight. Tharpe will return for the Jayhawks' next game, Nov. 12 in Chicago vs. Duke in the Champions Classic.
Memphis announced a similar decision involving freshman forward Kuran Iverson, as he was suspended for the team’s season opener Nov. 14 vs. Austin Peay because of his participation in an unauthorized summer league game in Connecticut.
Iverson, a 6-10, 209-pound prospect from Hartford ranked No. 28 in Rivals.com's Class of 2013, played in the Bluff City Classic in Memphis, then competed in a game in his hometown. Per NCAA rules, players can compete in summer games near their hometown or near their university, but not both.
Iverson, who counts former NBA star Allen Iverson and current NBA player Marcus Camby among his relatives, will be able to play in the team’s Nov. 8 exhibition vs. Christian Brothers before his suspension kicks in. His first game of the season will be against Marcus Smart and Oklahoma State on Nov. 19 in Stillwater.
GATORS' FRAZIER BATTLING MONO
Florida sophomore shooting guard Michael Frazier has been diagnosed with mononucleosis and will miss at least the team’s exhibition game Friday vs. Florida Southern, the team’s website reported.
Mono’s effects can linger a long time, which means even when Frazier returns, he may be playing at less than full strength. And if Frazier is out for an extended period of time, Florida will open the season without both members of its starting backcourt, as senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin is indefinitely suspended for violating team rules.
Such a scenario would mean that star freshman Kasey Hill and sophomore DeVon Walker would be the Gators’ starting backcourt on Nov. 8 vs. North Florida. The Gators’ second game is Nov. 12 against Wisconsin, ranked No. 14 in the preseason by Sporting News. SN ranks Florida No. 12.
Florida is also without the services of another standout freshman in Chris Walker, who is not yet academically eligible to join the school. But it did get some good news Wednesday when Class of 2014 SF Devin Robinson, ranked No. 29 by 247Sports, committed to the school. He is the Gators’ third commit for the class, joining PG Chris Chiozza and SG Brandone Francis.
BAD BREAK FOR TERPS
Maryland point guard Seth Allen is out 8-10 weeks with a fractured left foot, the team announced Wednesday. Allen broke the foot in practice on Tuesday.
The sophomore was slated to be the Terrapins' starting point guard, but this injury will send head coach Mark Turgeon back to the drawing board at the point position.
Allen's freshman campaign was cut short when he fractured a bone in his shooting hand last March. He averaged 7.9 points and 2.3 assists in 22 minutes per game last season.
Contributors: Roger Kuznia and Kami Mattioli
