Smith dismissed from Tennessee squad in wake of drug, gun charges
Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl dismissed forward Tyler Smith from the team yesterday, a week after his arrest with three other players on misdemeanor gun and drug charges.
Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl dismissed forward Tyler Smith from the team yesterday, a week after his arrest with three other players on misdemeanor gun and drug charges.
Pearl had indefinitely suspended Smith, guard Cameron Tatum, center Brian Williams and point guard Melvin Goins following the Jan. 1 arrest. The other three players will continue to serve their suspensions when No. 16 Tennessee hosts No. 1 Kansas tomorrow.
Police pulled over the vehicle the four were in for speeding and said they smelled marijuana coming from the car and found a handgun with an altered serial number, a bag of marijuana and an open container of alcohol. Tatum was driving the car, which was a rental borrowed from one of the player's friends, and is also charged with violating Tennessee's open container law.
Smith apologized for his actions in a statement.
The four are scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.
Noteworthy
* Today's game between Alcorn State and visiting Jackson State was postponed because of inclement weather.
* Rutgers center Greg Echenique, a sophomore from Venezuela, will transfer. He started seven games before his season ended last month when he had surgery to repair a detached retina.
In games last night:
* At South Dakota, Louis Dale's 19 points led Cornell (13-3) to a 71-65 victory.
* At Wright State, Mark Shelvin scored 21 points to help Butler (11-4, 4-0 Horizon League) win, 77-65.
* At Detroit, Eli Holman's 18 points and 12 rebounds led the Titans (11-5, 4-1 Horizon League) over Valparaiso, 77-67. *