Nathan Baird

nbaird@jconline.com

Smotherman also suspended for closed scrimmage and exhibition game.

The 6-foot-6 junior forward has averaged 3.8 points and 2.8 rebounds over 66 games.

Purdue men's basketball announced Wednesday night that it has suspended junior forward Basil Smotherman for the season opener against McNeese State for a violation of team rules.

Smotherman is also suspended for the closed scrimmage against West Virginia and the exhibition game against Southern Indiana.

According to court records, Smotherman was charged in Hancock County with possession of paraphernalia after being pulled over for speeding on June 5. Smotherman entered a not guilty plea to the misdemeanor charge on June 13 and has a pretrial conference scheduled for Aug. 1.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, McCordsville Police Department Officer Kyle Smith said he stopped Smotherman for driving 68 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone at 2:43 a.m. Smith said he noticed an odor of burnt marijuana and asked Smotherman when someone had last smoked marijuana in the vehicle. Smotherman said someone had smoked in the car that day.

Smith's affidavit said he placed Smotherman in handcuffs, put him in the patrol vehicle and conducted a search of the vehicle. He found a small "one hitter" pipe, commonly used for smoking marijuana, in the center console. Smith said in the back seat he also found a large, multi-colored glass pipe commonly used for smoking marijuana and silver marijuana grinder.

Smith said the grinder contained a small amount of a green, leafy substance.

"Before I closed the door, Mr. Smotherman stated the items in the car were not his, but knew it was going on him now," Smith wrote in the affidavit.

Smotherman was released at the scene, cited for the speeding violation and given a summons to appear for possession of paraphernalia.

Smotherman would first be eligible to return for the Nov. 14 game against defending national champion Villanova at Mackey Arena.

"We hold our players to high standards and when they don't meet those standards, there will be consequences," Purdue coach Matt Painter said in the release. "Basil knows he made a mistake and will learn from it."

Smotherman used a redshirt season last year. The Lawrence North graduate averaged 3.8 points and 2.8 rebounds over 66 games as a freshman and sophomore.

The 6-foot-6 Smotherman spoke last month about how eager he is to return to competition after sitting out one year. He has also been trying to slim down after he said he reached 250 pounds last season. Smotherman said he was at 232 and hoped to be down to 225 before the Boilermakers' trip to Spain in August.

A team spokesperson said the suspension did not affect Smotherman's status for the four-game Spain excursion.

Smotherman is expected to provide depth behind sophomore Caleb Swanigan at power forward and junior Vincent Edwards at small forward. The suspension presumably means extra minutes for redshirt sophomore forward Jacquil Taylor in those early contests. The Boilermakers can also use players such as Dakota Mathias and Ryan Cline on the wing when Vincent Edwards plays power forward.

Smotherman is the second Purdue player in the past four years to be suspended for three competitions to start the year. Former center A.J. Hammons was suspended for both exhibition games and the season opener of the 2013-14 season. Hammons was also benched for both preseason events and the first two games of last season.

Call Journal & Courier Purdue sports reporter Nathan Baird at 765-420-5234. Follow on Twitter: @nbairdjc.

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