Clemson Players Out For Season
If the Clemson Tigers are to make the NCAA Tournament, they will have to do it without guard Johnny Miller and forward Vincent Whitt.
Tigers coach Larry Shyatt Monday made the decision to suspend the pair for the remainder of the regular season due to violating team rules. Miller and Whitt, two of the team's top six players, missed this week's home losses to No. 2 Duke and No. 4 Maryland after being suspended by Shyatt hours before the Tigers' loss to the Blue Devils on Wednesday.
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The losses dropped Clemson, which won 11 of its first 12 games, to 12-8 overall and 1-6 in the rugged Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers put up a tough fight against fourth-ranked Maryland on Sunday before falling in overtime, 81-79. They have lost five consecutive games and are in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1995.
Miller, a senior who transferred from Temple after his sophomore season, averaged 5.9 points and 4.1 assists. He shot only 36 percent from the field but provided a defensive presence for Clemson, which has allowed just 60.5 points per game.
"Johnny Miller will not participate in any more games for the 1998-99 season," said Shyatt. "He will be focusing his attention towards his academics and family, as his life after college basketball has begun."
Whitt was the top reserve for the Tigers, averaging 7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds. He was third on the team in scoring and started 11 of the 18 games he's played. He shot 45 percent from the field and led the team with 10 blocked shots.
"Vincent Whitt will not participate in any remaining games, but will practice with the team," said Shyatt. "He will be focusing his attention towards his academics and his overall future the remainder of the season."
Freshman Will Solomon has started in place of Miller the last two games, scoring 19 points against Duke and four with seven assists in Sunday's lossThe 6-2 guard is averaging 4.5 points and 1.3 assists, shooting 34 percent.
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