Tulsa F Bishop Wheatley Must Sit Out

The senior will miss the Golden Hurricanes' first four games after violating NCAA rules in 2006.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:20 am

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Nov 11, 2009 5:51 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Reporter

TULSA, Oklahoma – When Tulsa’s mens basketball team suits up for the first regular season game Friday night, senior Bishop Wheatley will not be in uniform.

The school announced on Wednesday that the 6’6” forward will miss the first four games of the season after violating NCAA rules. Wheatley played in two exhibition games in November 2006 before taking a medical redshirt for that season. Taking a redshirt after participating in any preseason contests is a violation.

The university chose to apply the suspension to the first four games of this season. The NCAA notified TU of the problem back in 2007, but was given until the end of Wheatley’s career to apply the punishment.

Wheatley will miss games against St. Mary’s, Florida International, Arkansas Little Rock and South Alabama. He will be eligible to play against Loyola-Marymount in late November.

Wheatley averaged 3.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game last season in 27 games for the Golden Hurricane. Head coach Doug Wojcik hopes Wheatley can be a top defender for TU in 2009-10.