Lady Vols freshman faces penalty for unexcused absence

KNOXVILLE — Just two days after it looked like Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood might make her UT debut, the freshman's status is in question again — and this time it has nothing to do with an injury.

Wiley-Gatewood left town on Tuesday to go home and did not notify the coaching staff, Lady Vols Coach Pat Summitt said yesterday.

The point guard, who had missed the first six games of the season with tendinitis, missed three days of practice and meetings for unexcused reasons, Summitt said.

''She's violated our team policies, and I will deal with it when she returns to practice,'' Summitt said.

Wiley-Gatewood, from Pomona, Calif., was expected to return to Knoxville last night and is expected to be at practice today. She will not play against No. 15 DePaul (6-0) tomorrow.

Summitt did not find out until Thursday morning, but spoke with the player on the phone Thursday and yesterday. Summitt had said on Wednesday that Wiley-Gatewood was getting healthy, and she would dress for the DePaul game.

This news comes on the same day that senior point guard Loree Moore had a tonsillectomy. She will be out for up to a month.

Summitt said the procedure went well, and Moore is recovering at her apartment under the care of her mother, who came in from Lakewood, Calif.

Freshman Alexis Hornbuckle will start at point guard tomorrow, but the ninth-ranked Lady Vols (4-2) were hoping Wiley-Gatewood could provide depth. Starting shooting guard Shanna Zolman will be Hornbuckle's backup.

''The timing of it is not good for our team,'' Summitt said. ''I think it's just a situation where she chose to leave campus and needed to be on campus.''

Summitt was not sure if Wiley-Gatewood had finished her exams before she left. If there was academic work outstanding, Summitt said she believed Wiley-Gatewood would still have an opportunity to finish out her fall semester requirements.

Summitt said she does not think that the former high school Parade All-American left because she was homesick.

''She wants to be here,'' Summitt said. ''I think Sa'de likes it here.''