UConn benches Ryan Boatright

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HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut has benched freshman guard Ryan Boatright for the second time this season as the NCAA investigates his eligibility.

The school announced Friday night that Boatright will not play Saturday at Notre Dame and will remain inactive while the school works with the NCAA during its review.

The point guard from Aurora, Ill., who is generously listed at 6-foot in the team's media guide, was suspended for the first six games of the season for an infraction that involved accepting a plane ticket last year while he was playing AAU basketball.

The school, in a statement, said the latest development "arises from additional information provided by the NCAA that pertains to conditions and events that predate the university's relationship with Boatright."

Boatright will be allowed to sit on the bench during the games and may practice with the team, but he will not dress and will not play while the joint review takes place, the school said.

Phil Chardis, a spokesman for the team, said the university would have no further comment on the issue during the review.

Boatright has averaged more than 10 points and three assists in 10 games for UConn (No. 16 ESPN/USA Today, No. 17 AP).

His presence has allowed UConn (13-3) to speed up its offense with a three-guard look that has Boatright playing alongside sophomore point guard Shabazz Napier and Jeremy Lamb.

Boatright said Thursday he was looking forward to playing Saturday near his hometown, and that over 400 friends and family had purchased tickets for the game.

Connecticut could also be missing forward Tyler Olander for the game. Coach Jim Calhoun said Olander suffered a bruised right heel in the Huskies' win Monday against West Virginia was being evaluated day-to-day.

Calhoun returned to the bench last Saturday after serving a three-game suspension of his own. The NCAA found last year that he had failed to create an atmosphere of compliance within his program.

That was one of several violations stemming from an investigation into recruiting that dated to the mid-2000s, well before Boatright's involvement with the program.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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