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Illinois suspends Darius Paul indefinitely

Derek Thompson, Darius Paul

AP

AP

Darius Paul’s second chance with the Illinois men’s basketball program has quickly turned into a second suspension. Illinois head coach John Groce announced on Saturday morning that the 6-foot-8 forward has been suspended indefinitely following a violation of team rules during the team’s current foreign trip in France.

“We have specific standards of behavior for every member of our team and when those expectations are not met, there are consequences,” Groce said in a statement. “Darius is returning home immediately and we will evaluate his status with the team following our return to Champaign.”

Paul, the younger brother of former Illini star Brandon Paul, was suspended for the entire 2014-15 season following “multiple transgressions”. Paul, the Western Michigan transfer, had redshirted the previous year due to NCAA transfer rules. Instead of missing his second consecutive season, he decided enrolled at Lamar State College-Port Arthur (Texas), where he averaged 17.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in 2014-15 before rejoining the Illini.

According to the release from the university, Paul was not playing on the foreign tour due to an injury.

Paul averaged 10.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for Western Michigan during the 2012-13 season.

UPDATE: Bret Beherns of WCIA-TV in Champaign is reporting Paul was arrested on Friday for vandalism, public intoxication, resisting arrest.

According to Deauville police superintendent Madam Pons, Paul was ‘very, very drunk’ and was taken into custody after he resisted arrest


— Bret Beherns (@WCIA3Bret) August 15, 2015

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