Bad news for Valparaiso- starter Joe Burton suspended

[Da Coach]

Valparaiso got some bad news today.
Joe Burton, a 6'6" junior transfer from Oklahoma State was suspended from the team for failing to meet University academic standards. This hurts Valpo. Their leading scorer Tevonn Walker has missed the last 3 games with a severe case of mononucleosis. Burton is the team's second leading scorer averaging 11.5 ppg overall, but he has averaged 16 ppg in the games since Walker went out. He also leads the team in 3-pointers.

http://cdn.streamlinetechnologies.com/valpoathletics/54FB8991-F303-4A4F-A19D-307D5827FF54/2017_MBB_Statsi.pdf

Joe Burton bio-

http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/roster/2017-18/9139/joe-burton/

Valparaiso is still out in California after playing and winning at Santa Clara (Burton scored a team-leading 14 points in that game) on Monday, they are playing at UC Riverside tonight. The game starts at 9:00 PM Central.

[tornado]

if he's academically ineligible at the semester break - then does that mean he'd be out 'til at least the end of the next grading period? Wouldn't that be at least late January or February - or possibly next season?

[Da Coach]

if he's academically ineligible at the semester break - then does that mean he'd be out 'til at least the end of the next grading period? Wouldn't that be at least late January or February - or possibly next season?

Who knows? The only info was this statement by Evansville-
Joe Burton has failed to meet University academic standards and has been suspended from the Valpo men's basketball program, effective immediately.
There will be no further comment on the situation from the University.

For the record, Burton has been on the Valparaiso campus for 1?? years, since he had to sit out last year while enrolled at Valpo in accordance with the NCAA transfer rules. Schools usually monitor the academic progress of their athletes extremely closely, and provide whatever academic support is needed to maintain their eligibility. So it certainly seems unusual for this issue to be suddenly arising now.

[Da Coach]

The Valparaiso beat writer for the NW Indiana Times reports that Joe Burton has returned to his home in Texas, "and his status with the Valparaiso basketball team is unknown going forward".

It has been suggested that Joe Burton had academic problems at Oklahoma State and that played a part in his leaving that program.

[tornado]

the timing would suggest that the Athletic Dept. support staff was caught off guard by his semester grades and he must have failed some courses..

This is not the first suspension for Burton - he was also suspended for the first two games of the season
They never said the reason other than "violation of team rules"..
BUT - Burton did have a marijuana arrest last January while he was sitting out his transfer from OSU

[Da Coach]

the timing would suggest that the Athletic Dept. support staff was caught off guard by his semester grades and he must have failed some courses..

That seems obvious, since he made the road trip with the team to the west coast, and played in their last game Monday night at Santa Clara before being shipped home right before they play tonight at UC Riverside.

[pfcmsh]

Good Grades

Our kids are all getting good grades and educations. I think that is one more reason to support Coach Wardle. He is building our program right. Go Braves!!

[Da Coach]

Our kids are all getting good grades and educations. I think that is one more reason to support Coach Wardle. He is building our program right. Go Braves!!