Less than 24 hours after suffering their third loss of the season, No. 4 Duke announced Thursday afternoon that junior guard Rasheed Sulaimon has been dismissed from the program. This move leaves the Blue Devils with just eight scholarship players.
Sulaimon, who started 17 of the 34 games he played in as a sophomore, moved into a reserve role for the Blue Devils this season. The Houston native averaged 7.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 19.5 minutes of action per game, and in the loss at No. 8 Notre Dame Wednesday night Sulaimon accounted for three points and two steals in 12 minutes.
“Rasheed has been unable to consistently live up to the standards required to be a member of our program,” head coach Mike Krzyzewski said in the release. “It is a privilege to represent Duke University and with that privilege comes the responsibility to conduct oneself in a certain manner.
“After Rasheed repeatedly struggled to meet the necessary obligations, it became apparent that it was time to dismiss him from the program.”
Per the school, Sulaimon is expected to finish out the semester academically, and he is in good academic standing.
Without Sulaimon the Blue Devils lose a little depth on the perimeter, which is led by starters Tyus Jones, Quinn Cook and Justise Winslow. Sulaimon’s dismissal could mean a few more minutes for Matt Jones moving forward, with the sophomore having surpassed the 20-minute mark in each of the last two games (24 vs. St. John’s, 21 vs. Notre Dame). Jones is averaging 4.7 points and 2.0 rebounds per game this season.
Another perimeter option moving forward is freshman Grayson Allen, who’s played sparingly (6.1 mpg) this season. Duke returns to action Saturday night, when they take on No. 2 Virginia in Charlottesville.