UTC coach John Shulman, right, talks to Chris Early during a game at McKenzie Arena in this file photo. Early was dismissed from the team on Monday, he had been on suspension since Dec. 16 when disparaging tweets about Shulman were revealed to the coach.UTC senior Chris Early was dismissed from the team on Monday afternoon, according to a source close to Early.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga basketball coach John Shulman is expected to address the situation before a team meeting scheduled for 3:30 p.m. today.
Early was suspended since Dec. 16, when disparaging tweets about Shulman from November were revealed to the coach.
According to the source, Early will remain on scholarship, have access to academic support and full access to athletic facilities so he can prepare for a professional basketball career overseas.
Early averaged 7.4 points and six rebounds per game in 10 games this season before his suspension began by missing UTC's 87-62 loss at Kentucky on Dec. 17. The Mocs went 5-2 while Early was suspended.
"You can talk to 20 people and get 20 different opinions," Shulman said on Jan. 4. "But nobody has been through the wars with Chris and I've got the relationship with Chris and I'm making the decision."
See Tuesday's Times Free Press for more coverage.