By Anthony Bosco
The St. John’s University men’s basketball team announced Sunday that junior center Kyle Cuffe will be held out of two Red Storm games this week, including Tuesday’s encounter with Syracuse and Sunday’s game against the University of Connecticut.
The announcement came one day after the team’s 69-59 loss to the Providence Friars at Alumni Hall. Cuffe did not play in the game and sat in his warm-ups during the entire second half.
“Kyle and I spoke on Sunday and discussed his attitude as it relates to his role on this team,” said head coach Mike Jarvis. “I feel it’s not where it should be and Kyle and I will meet again this Sunday after we both have had time to think things over.”
No other comments by Jarvis and the team will be made regarding this matter this week, the release stated.
Cuffe, who is averaging 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, has started in 16 of SJU’s 21 games this season, but has seen his minutes steadily decline over the past month.
The Bronx native out of Rice High School emerged as the team’s starting center following the preseason and showed flashes of solid play, including a career-high 19 points against Providence Jan. 8. That game was also his second career double-double, having posted 15 points and 12 boards earlier in the season in a non-conference game against St. Francis (N.Y.)
He had 11 points and 12 rebounds in a win over UCLA Jan. 11, but that was the last time he produced double-digit numbers in either points or rebounds. Cuffe was 1-for-11 against Connecticut and 1-for-9 against Miami, resulting in his removal from the starting line-up.
Grady Reynolds and Abe Keita have both increased their minutes as a result of Cuffe’s sub-par play.
If Cuffe is reinstated to the team following the Connecticut game, he could be eligible to play Wednesday, Feb. 26, when the Red Storm hosts Boston College at Madison Square Garden.
A similar situation arose last year between Jarvis and Alpha Bangura, resulting in Bangura’s leaving the team and eventually the school to pursue a professional career.
Reach Sports Editor Anthony Bosco by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 1-718-229-0300, Ext. 130.
