College Notes: Clemson's Jennings will not play today

CLEMSON -- Clemson men's basketball coach Brad Brownell said Friday that former Pinewood Prep star Milton Jennings will not play at Virginia Tech today. Jennings remains indefinitely suspended for a violation of the team's academic policy.

Jennings was suspended Monday and did not play at Virginia on Wednesday. Jennings is not practicing with the team this week, but Brownell said he has set benchmarks that would allow for Jennings to return to the team.

"I have set up some guidelines that I want him to meet," Brownell said. "He has to take care of those things, and if he does and gets himself where I think he's in a good place, then we'll talk about (his return)."

Brownell has declined to document what Jennings' specific breach of policy entailed.

"I think there are a lot of coaches that wouldn't discipline their kids for some of the things that happen," Brownell said. "It's part of college basketball. If you are about doing things the right way and about holding your guys accountable, then you are going to have these situations."

Jennings, a junior, is averaging eight points and five rebounds per game.

Connecticut

Connecticut basketball coach Jim Calhoun is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence, the school announced.

The Hall of Fame coach, who turns 70 in May, has been suffering for several months from spinal stenosis, a lower back condition that causes him severe pain and hampers mobility, according to the release.

"Last summer, Jim had some significant back pain and has seen two excellent back specialists," said Dr. Peter Schulman, Calhoun's primary care doctor. "The initial approach recommended to him was stretching, physical therapy and exercise, and that was successful for several months. It turns out that there is some degenerative problem in the lumbar vertebrae and it's impinging on the nerves."

George Blaney, the team's associate head coach, will lead the team in Calhoun's absence. The Huskies (14-7, 4-5 Big East) have lost four games in a row. They host Seton Hall today before travelling to Louisville on Monday.

The school confirmed that Calhoun will miss at least those two games.