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Nothing yet Dad says Przybilla will leave; Minnesota awaits word
Posted: Friday February 18, 2000 01:02 AM
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota coach Dan Monson said Thursday night he had not spoken with suspended center Joel Przybilla, whose parents say he plans to turn pro rather than return to the Golden Gophers' basketball team. "As far as Joel's situation, I still have not talked to him," Monson said after Minnesota's 89-80 loss to Illinois at Williams Arena. "I have monitored his academic situation the past couple of days, but I'm not going to speculate. ..." Monson said Przybilla hadn't been attending classes since he was suspended indefinitely Tuesday for what the first-year coach characterized as the player's lack of commitment to academics. By NCAA academic standards, Przybilla would still be eligible to play. The father of the 7-foot-1 sophomore center, Doug Przybilla, said his son will not return to the team this season and plans to enter the NBA draft in June. "To be honest with you, my wife and I would have preferred he stay here (Minnesota)," Doug Przybilla told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis on Thursday. "But it came to a point where he had basically had it." The Saint Paul Pioneer Press also reported that Przybilla will not return to the team this season and plans to enter the NBA draft. The newspaper said Przybilla's parents have begun meeting with prospective agents for their son, a projected lottery pick in the draft. The paper cited two sources close to the center but did not name them. Przybilla could not be reached for comment Thursday and was said to be out of town. Marc Ryan, media relations director for the athletic department, said he knew nothing about Przybilla leaving the program. "Joel is suspended ... and that's about all you can say right now," Ryan said. "It's been widely reported that the ball's in Joel's court now. The future's entirely up to Joel." This season, Przybilla averaged 17.2 points and 11.2 rebounds in 11 Big Ten games. He was recently chosen as the Big Ten Player of the Week after scoring 33 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in an upset over Indiana. Illinois coach Lon Kruger said he admired Monson for holding his star player to the same standards as his other players. "I don't think there's many coaches in the country who would have handled it quite like that. That should be applauded," Kruger said. "It's a tough thing to do. It's his best player. It's a guy that's coming off of a great game. And I think all that just makes it that much more impressive is that he steps up there and tries to do something that is best for Joel and his program. That's just absolutely not easy to do." Monson compared it to parents disciplining a child.
"It's not what you want to do, but that doesn't mean you don't
do it," he said.
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