Odom meets with suspended players

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina coach Dave Odom met with suspended players Josh Gonner and Antoine Tisby on Sunday, but said he doesn't know what their future is with the Gamecocks.

Gonner, a senior guard, and Tisby, a junior college transfer forward, were both disciplined in connection with this past Saturday's 80-72 loss at Florida. Gonner played nine minutes in the first half, but was not on the bench after the break. Tisby practiced on Friday but was not brought down with the team.

"That's a matter that's still ongoing," Odom said Monday during the Southeastern Conference coaches' teleconference. "We'll make some determination about that in timely fashion, and when we do we'll announce it."

Odom said he talked with both players Sunday, then met briefly with the team and updated the group on the situation. The fourth-year coach characterized the talks as "good."

"I had a good meeting with them in terms of listening to them, and hopefully they heard me," Odom said.

There was no timetable for a resolution and Odom expected both players at practice this week. "I have not told them not to practice," he said.

South Carolina, at 11-7 overall and 3-4 in the SEC, takes on Arkansas at the Colonial Center on Wednesday night.

"I know everybody's interested in that. I'm not trying to play games," Odom said. "But it's a serious matter in terms of the future of two young men, but more important, the future of our basketball team."

It is the second time Gonner and Tisby have been disciplined this year. Gonner, who transferred from Hutchinson Community College last year, was suspended for the South Carolina State game on Dec. 22. Tisby, who came to South Carolina this season from Allen County (Kan.) Community College, was held out of an exhibition contest and the Gamecocks season opener for what Odom said then were "time management" issues.

Gonner started nine of the 17 games he has played this year. He has averaged 8.4 points and leads the team with 23 3-pointers.

Tisby has made three starts in his 16 games, averaging 4.5 points and 3.9 rebounds.

South Carolina is down from its season-opening roster because of the transfer of sophomore forward Paulius Joneliunas earlier in January. If Gonner and Tisby don't return, the Gamecocks would be down to 10 players.

The Gamecocks got a boost in the second half against Florida with the play of freshman forward Dwayne Day, who came on to score 14 points as South Carolina cut the lead to five before losing.

Odom says he'll take his time with Gonner's and Tisby's future because it's an important issue. "I want to make sure I make a wise decision, and I want to make sure I hear from the two young men as much as they want to be heard from," the coach said.