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Virginia Tech suspends top rebounder indefinitely for ‘lack of discipline and self-control at practice’

Joey van Zegeren

Joey van Zegeren

AP

Joey Van Zegeren, a 6-foot-10 junior forward, was suspended indefinitely by the Virginia Tech program on Friday afternoon, the team announced.

“Joey failed to meet the expectations we have for our team,” Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams said in a statement, via WDJB 7. “He demonstrated a lack of discipline and self-control at practice and as such this suspension was warranted.”

The Hokies will enter the start of ACC conference play without the services of their top rebounder and third leading scorer, as Van Zegeren was posting averages of 9.8 points and 5.3 boards per game.

Virginia Tech opens league play on Saturday at home against Syracuse. The Orange feature one of the nation’s most improved big men in Rakeem Christmas, who is averaging 17.8 points and 8.8 boards per game. Van Zegeren’s suspension means it’ll be up to Shane Henry and 7-foot freshman Satchel Pierce -- both logging less than a dozen minutes per game -- to contain the frontline of Christmas and Chris McCullough.

The Hokies begin league play with an 8-5 record.

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