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Thursday, March 19, 1998

Penders stands by suspension of Axtell

By CHIP BROWN /AP Sports Writer

AUSTIN (AP) -- Texas coach Tom Penders stood by his suspension of freshman guard Luke Axtell Wednesday, saying he's sorry Axtell wants to transfer.

"I suspended Luke for academic reasons and academic reasons only," Penders said from a hotel in the Caribbean, where he is on vacation with his family.

"I don't have any ill feelings toward Luke at all. You want all your kids to be happy. In my 27 years of coaching, I've never had a player who wanted to transfer whom I wanted to stay and who I think has a great future. I'm sorry about it. But we just have to move on."

Axtell, the Longhorns' second-leading scorer this year, is out of town on spring break and couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.

He told the Austin American-Statesman that he had asked for and received permission from Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds to transfer.

Axtell told the newspaper that freshman guard Bernard Smith, sophomore Gabe Muoneke and 7-foot freshman Chris Mihm, a high school teammate of Axtell's at Austin Westlake, also were unhappy with Penders and were considering leaving.

Axtell accused Penders of verbal abuse, dishonesty and failing to develop players.

Penders said, "I won't even dignify those comments with an answer. It's like asking someone, ÔWhen was the last time you beat your wife?"

The four players met with Dodds on March 9 -- the day after Texas, which struggled to a 14-17 record, was eliminated from the Big 12 tournament.

Muoneke said Wednesday that he had become frustrated under Penders, adding that he didn't think the coach had developed him enough. He said he hadn't yet made up his mind whether to leave.

"Maybe I'm the problem, but I don't think so," Muoneke said. "I'll probably make a decision in a week."

Muoneke added that the players were not trying to force Penders out.

"I want to make it clear that everything is on an individual basis," Muoneke said. "Four players didn't come together and say, ÔLet's do this.' Everybody has their own reasons."

Smith, a starter at point guard, said he plans to return to Texas next year. But if Mihm, Axtell and Muoneke left, he would rethink his future, he said.

"As of right now, I'm coming back next year," Smith said. "But people are telling me that Luke and Chris and Gabe are leaving, that the young nucleus is breaking up. If they leave, I would have to sit down with my parents and decide."

Mihm was out of town and couldn't be reached Wednesday. His father, Gary, told the American-Statesman, "Chris has said he will consider transferring if the other guys left."

Anthony Goode, a backup sophomore point guard on the team, has already said he is leaving, unhappy with his playing time.

According to Penders, Axtell "refused to go to study hall or meet with tutors and his performance has been indicative of that. Our players know they have to take care of the academic side of things before they take care of basketball."

The 6-foot-9 Axtell was second on the team in scoring with a 13.3 points per game average; led the team in 3-point shooting (39 percent) and was second on the team in average minutes played per game (28.7).

Axtell talked to the American-Statesman shortly after Penders issued a news release on Tuesday night announcing Axtell's indefinite suspension.

"I think there's a lot of dishonesty in the program, and it starts at the top," said Axtell, who called the newspaper from West Texas, where he is on spring break. "Most everybody wants to get out. You can't play for somebody you don't respect, and you can't respect somebody who lies to you all the time."

Penders said the team would meet next week following spring break.

Earlier in the season, Mihm had been the subject of rumors about a possible transfer. But he became a bigger focus of the offense late in the season and said publicly that he was happy at Texas and looking forward to next year.

"I thought it was a very good year for our freshmen," Penders said. "I was pleased with all of their development. Bernard was learning a new position. Chris Mihm developed more and faster than any player I've ever seen. Luke had a great freshman year, and until he got hurt, had a chance for freshman of the year in the Big 12."