This week in Toronto, Duquesne romped past four opponents. But off the court, a series of events has rocked Ron Everhart's program.

Robert Mitchell, the top freshman last season in the Atlantic 10 and the team's leading scorer, left school and plans to transfer to Seton Hall. Junior-college recruit Ricky Jackson wasn't admitted to Duquesne. Freshman Damian Saunders was admitted two weeks after he was turned down by Marquette.

But the news that most shocked Everhart and the university was the arrest of Stuard Baldonado, a 6-foot-7 power forward who had been practicing with the team and was expected to be a major contributor this season.

Baldonado, one of the victims of a shooting spree after an on-campus party last year, was suspended indefinitely by the university and Everhart after his arrest on drug charges Friday. He was charged with criminal conspiracy involving the manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance.

A preliminary hearing scheduled yesterday was postponed until Sept. 13. Baldonado was released on his own recognizance.

"It's embarrassing and disappointing to me with the situation with Baldonado. It's a first for me," said Everhart, who coached for 14 seasons at McNeese State and Northeastern before coming to Duquesne last season. "He's the first player I've ever had arrested in my 14 years as a coach."

Baldonado, Duquesne's top recruit two years ago out of Miami Dade College who sat out last season for academic reasons and to recover from his gunshot wounds, filed a lawsuit in April alleging that Duquesne failed to provide proper security at the party and that the injuries will hinder his ability to make a living playing professional basketball.

The speed with which Duquesne suspended Baldonado concerned Teresa Toriseva, Baldonado's attorney in Wheeling, W.Va.

"It smacks of retaliation," she said yesterday. "This is the kind of thing we feared when we filed the suit. This is not a conviction. It's a charge. It seems like the university is casting him aside.

"I do expect Stuard to be exonerated. When he is exonerated, the university will have no choice [but to take him back]."

Duquesne President Charles Dougherty did not return phone calls.

The Duquesne University Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct allows the administration to take disciplinary action and impose sanctions for "conduct which demonstrates disregard for the University community, and/or pursuit of its objectives and Mission."

Further, the code allows administration to hand down any discipline "without regard to the pending of civil or criminal litigation in court or criminal arrest and prosecution."

Duquesne, however, did not suspend star basketball player Bryant McAllister two years ago when he was arrested on drug charges in May. The charges were dropped and McAllister sat out two preseason scrimmages and the opening game of the season.

"I don't think [Stuard's arrest] is indicative of the program," athletic director Greg Amodio said from Richmond, Va., where he is attending the Atlantic 10 meetings. "One kid made a bad decision, that's unfortunate, and it reflects negatively on the others."