WVU head coach kicks leading scorer off team

(U-WIRE) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Drew Schifino’s playing days in Morgantown, W.Va., are… (U-WIRE) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Drew Schifino’s playing days in Morgantown, W.Va., are officially over.

West Virginia’s leading scorer was dismissed from the team by head coach John Beilein for violation of team rules.

“After meeting with my staff, we felt this was the decision we had to make,” Beilein said. “Due to federal privacy laws, I cannot discuss personal matters related to student-athletes publicly. This is an unfortunate situation, but we’ll do whatever we can in helping him transfer to another school.”

Schifino confirmed his dismissal Monday evening and said he would seek a transfer immediately. The former junior swingman said he has not sought out, nor received, transfer interest from another college or university, but that his search would begin as soon as possible. Schifino also said he would “definitely stay at a Division-I school.”

Beilein’s dismissal of Schifino is the culmination of six tumultuous days for the West Virginia men’s basketball program.

According to Schifino, he was initially suspended for one game (Georgetown) because of comments he made to reporters following a Jan. 7 loss at Notre Dame.

When interviewed after the loss to the Fighting Irish, Schifino told The Dominion Post, “I didn’t play a lot. I didn’t get many shots. It’s not a selfish thing, but I averaged 20 points a game last year. To win, we need me to score. I can’t get my shots.”

Upon learning of his suspension for the Georgetown game during a meeting with Beilein, Schifino said he skipped practice later that day, prompting his indefinite suspension on Jan. 9.

Then came Schifino’s official dismissal Monday, which according to Beilein was made after much deliberation among the coaching staff. However, Beilein’s comments on the situation remain vague.

“This is not a fun thing to do; this is a terrible thing to do,” Beilein said Monday in a radio interview. “We’re very confident that this move is best for the growth of the program. It was no longer right for [Schifino] here.”

Schifino, on the other hand, has been much more vocal.

“I asked him what his reason [for the indefinite suspension] was,” Schifino said. “[Beilein] didn’t really give a reason. He couldn’t really explain himself.”

Schifino also alleges that Beilein failed to punish other players for more detrimental behavior, and that teammates informed Schifino that Beilein said he wasn’t a team player when Schifino wasn’t around.

Beilein was unable to be reached for comment. He did, however, say on the radio show that the team was polled in regards to Schifino’s suspension, but that the final dismissal decision was made by the coaching staff alone.