Another blow for UVa bigs

“The Thrill” is gone. For just how long, nobody’s saying.

On Wednesday, Virginia fans received some more bad news when the school announced that senior forward Jamil “The Thrill” Tucker was taking an “indefinite leave of absence” from the team.

Just last week, new Virginia coach Tony Bennett suspended center Assane Sene for the first three games of the season for “conduct detrimental to the team.”

All of this with the Wahoos’ season opener versus Longwood just one day away — the Cavaliers host the Lancers on Friday night at 7 p.m. The loss of two key players, for such vague reasons, so close to the start of the opener is certainly a bit odd.

According to Bennett, Tucker — a 6-foot-9 player from Gary, Ind. — is taking the leave so that he can focus on personal matters. Tucker, who was expected to be a key contributor this season, will not play in games or practice with the team during his leave of absence.

“Jamil has some things he has to deal with at this time,” Bennett said in a release. “This leave of absence will give him time to deal with these matters.”

Tucker played in all 28 games and started four for Virginia last season. He averaged 7.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 18.5 minutes. He shot 44.2 percent from the field, including 40.3 percent from 3-point range.

Tucker’s absence, coupled with the loss of Sene, leaves Virginia extremely thin in the front court. UVa’s only remaining big people are Mike Scott, Jerome Meyinsse and walk-on Will Sherrill.

“It’s an opportunity for other guys on our team,” Bennett said during a teleconference. “Guys like Jerome, even Tristan [Spurlock] and Will [Sherrill]...they have to be ready.”

Scott has been hobbled by a foot injury that he sustained in the closed-door scrimmage against St. John’s on Sunday. However, Bennett was optimistic that the 6-foot-8 junior would be ready for Longwood.

In other injury news, Bennett said Calvin Baker’s status is still up in the air. Baker, still recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his knee, has returned to practice on a limited basis.

“I’ll talk to Ethan [Saliba] and see how he responded to practice [on Tuesday],” Bennett said, referring to the Cavaliers’ trainer. “He didn’t go the whole practice, but he did some things, so that will be kind of tentative — it’s how he responds.”