My new favorite team, Indiana, has suffered a major blow, as senior guard and third-leading returning scorer A.J. Ratliff has been suspended due to academic issues.
Assuming he gets his shit together, he will be back on the team in time for the Big Ten Season, but will miss games against Georgia Tech, Kentucky, and Southern Illinois, as well as the Chicago Invitational and a potential game against either Xavier or Kent State.
Ratliff was a 40% shooter from three last year, and was penciled in to start at a guard spot. After losing Earl Calloway and Roderick Wilmont to graduation, Indiana is going to be quite thin on the perimeter.
Although with talented freshman Eric Gordon and Jordan Crawford coming on board, as well as Juco transfer Jamarcus Ellis, this may turn out to be a positive for the Big Ten season. Gordon is going to be a stud regardless, but Crawford and Ellis will have to be ready to play in a hurry. By the time Ratliff gets back, the Hoosiers may be more stacked than they were already.
I'm officially calling this a positive (assuming he gets eligible for second semester).
ADDITIONALLY: Didn't mention this earlier, but Illinois' Jamar Smith is out this year due to a DUI, but Illinois sucks anyway so who really gives a crap?
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