Sene Suspended For First Three Games Of Regular Season

Courtesy: Matt Riley / UVa Media Relations Assane Sene

CHARLOTTESVILLE—Virginia sophomore center Assane Sene has been suspended for the first three games of the 2009-10 regular season by men’s head basketball coach Tony Bennett for conduct detrimental to the team. Sene will also not play in the Cavaliers’ closed scrimmage with St. John’s on Sunday, Nov. 8.

“We have expectations for the individuals in our program that Assane has not met,” Bennett said. “He will not play in our closed scrimmage with St. John’s on Sunday and in the first three games of the regular season, but will practice with the team. My hope is Assane will learn from this situation as we move forward.”

Sene will miss Virginia’s season-opener with Longwood at John Paul Jones Arena on Nov. 13, the Cavaliers’ game at South Florida (Nov. 16) and a home game with Rider (Nov. 19).

The 7-0 Sene is from Saint-Louis, Senegal. He played in 22 games last season, starting 16, and averaged 2.5 points and 4.6 rebounds a game. He led the team with 35 blocked shots (1.6 bpg.) and ranked fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference.