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Texas sophomore guard Tevin Mack will be granted his release from the program, coach Shaka Smart confirmed Monday during his weekly press conference.
Mack was suspended on Jan. 12 for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Prior to the start of the regular season Smart suspended Mack and fellow sophomore Kerwin Roach three games – two exhibitions and the season opener against UIW — for an offseason violation of team rules.
Smart never disclosed the reason for Mack’s suspension, saying only that Mack “failed to reach” the set of standards those in the program are expected to adhere to.
“It was my decision [to suspend him],” Smart said, per 247Sports. “For the long term growth of our program and where we are trying to get to culture-wise it was really not much of a choice. One of the things you try to do in coaching is you try to do the best thing for the young men that you coach, but you’re also trying to do the right thing for the program. Most of the time those things align with each other, but sometimes they don’t. Sometimes you have to make a tough call.”
Smart initially recruited Mack while he was still the coach at Virginia Commonwealth. When Smart accepted the job at UT, VCU granted Mack a release from his letter of intent so he could follow.
Mack was UT’s leading scorer, averaging 14.8 points in 15 games. He also led the team in 3-pointers (2.3 per game) and was second in rebounding (4.9).
At the end of the day, Smart said, Mack’s transgressions left him no choice.
nmoyle@express-news.net
Twitter: @NRmoyle
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