Jordan Gainey on why he excels off the Tennessee basketball bench
Jordan Gainey had 16 points for Tennessee basketball in its 82-61 win against Wofford on Tuesday
This story has been updated with new information.
Following reports the NCAA came down hard on Wofford basketball on Sept. 17, suspending six players for receiving improper benefits, according to Jeff Goodman of Field of 68, college sports’ governing body released a clarification Sept. 18 it did not in fact issue suspensions.
The reported suspensions had provided some clarity after the Terriers fired coach Dwight Perry, which was announced Sept. 12 in what at the time was a stunning move just two months out from the regular season. Perry was the successor to Jay McAuley, who resigned following an NCAA investigation found he was forcing players to practice on what should have been days off.
According to Goodman, the players were promised upperclassmen dorms upon their transfer to Wofford. Upon their arrivals, however, they were placed in underclassmen dorms. Rather than live in those dorms, the players decided to pay for off-campus apartments. The suspensions, had they been issued, would have been for continuing to use meal plans despite living off campus.
The players were not named in the report. Wofford had not made any announcement about player suspensions.
Perry led the Terriers to the NCAA tournament last season, losing to Tennessee in the first round as a No. 15 seed.
With Perry fired, players have 30 days to enter the transfer portal. Perry, for his part, is fighting his firing. Should he be rehired, that transfer window would close.
Assistant Drew Gibson was named interim coach of the Terriers.
