UNC's already undermanned team just got a little thinner with the announcement yesterday that Will Graves has been kicked off the team. The dismissal, which it was stressed had nothing to do with any of the investigations surrounding the football team, was for the ever-vague failure to comply with team rules. Graves, of course, was suspended from the championship team back in February of 2009 and had famously worked extremely hard to get back on it after most fans had pretty much written him off. Whatever this infraction was, it was one too many, as there is no way the fifth-year senior will return.
This would have been more of a blow last season, when Graves was the team's only semi-consistent perimeter threat, as well as one of the few players who always seemed to be playing with enthusiasm during a listless season. With the influx of hot-shooting freshman this season, he'll be more missed in the paint, where although only 6'6" he could throw around some serious bulk. His dismissal leaves only ten players on the official roster right now, as well as the fols printing up the media guide most likely scrambling to edit the cover.
Graves was one of the more oft-criticized Tar Heel players of the past few years, often drawing complaints for poor shot selection; I often disagreed, because no one else seemed to be taking any shots at times with last years team. Either way, he'll unfortunately be remembered for being one of the bigger screw-ups in recent Carolina history, having been bounced from the team twice in eighteen months. Best of luck to him, though.