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Suspension is linked to possible telephone abuses Monday, January 24, 2000 By Gerry Dulac, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
Freshman forward Donatas Zavackas missed the past three games because he is among the University of Pittsburgh students being investigated by the school for unauthorized use of access codes to make long-distance phone calls.
Zavackas did not make the trip for the 81-66 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday, but Coach Ben Howland said last week he plans to let the 6-foot-8 native of Lithuania return for the home game Wednesday night against Villanova.
Zavackas has been practicing with the team and has not been suspended by the school. Howland has refused to disclose why Zavackas has not been playing, only saying it is "a disciplinary thing."
The university, which has acknowledged the investigation, said it does not plan to file charges against the students involved. The school merely wants to seek reimbursement for the amount of the improper phone calls.
Howland declined further comment.
Athletic Director Steve Pederson, who attended the game Saturday, also declined comment.
Howland disciplined three other players before the start of the Seton Hall game on Jan. 16, but that was for minor violations of team rules that are unrelated to the university investigation. Jeremy Holmes, Chris Seabrooks and freshman guard Brandin Knight did not start that game but were inserted into the lineup within the first couple minutes.
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