updated 8:02 p.m. ET Dec. 12, 2007

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville forward Derrick Caracter has been suspended from the No. 22 Cardinals indefinitely for a curfew violation, coach Rick Pitino said Monday.

Caracter, who will move out of the dormitory where he lives with the rest of the basketball team, has had a series of run-ins with Pitino since the sophomore arrived last season. He was sent home to New Jersey briefly almost a year ago.

Pitino said he wasn’t sure when Caracter would return, only that “it’s going to be a while.”

The team, not Pitino, decided on the suspension, the coach said.

Pitino wanted to suspend Caracter before last weekend’s loss to Dayton, but gave in to players’ requests to play him. Caracter is second on the team in scoring at 13.4 points per game, and averages 7.4 rebounds.

The Cardinals’ front line was already depleted by injuries to center David Padgett and forward Juan Palacios, both seniors. Both dressed for Saturday’s game but did not play in the 70-65 loss. Padgett was one of the players who pushed for Caracter to play, Pitino said.

In order to play, Caracter signed a contract Saturday that included a curfew — “the easiest thing on the contract,” Pitino said.

Caracter broke curfew the same night.

“The sad thing about it all is he knows how much the team went to bat for him,” Pitino said. “And he also knows how much he’s needed, already being short-handed.”

Louisville (5-2) doesn’t play again until Saturday against Purdue in Indianapolis.

More news

Mark J. Terrill / AP

Ex-Bruin reacted to article right way

CBT: Drew Gordon is taking a different approach than Reeves Nelson, one much more likely to result in hearing his name called come draft day.

C. Mich. transfer Zeigler cleared to play at Pitt

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Former Central Michigan guard Trey Zeigler has been cleared by the NCAA to play at Pitt next season.

Headlines

• Label

CBT: Cincinnati, Xavier to continue rivalry

CBT: 4 Indiana schools extend Crossroads Classic

CBT: Stony Brook says it's staying put ... for now

CBT: Will Michigan re-hang the Fab Five banners?

CBT: Is the new early entry deadline working?

CBT: Fine's wife to sue ESPN for libel

CBT: Coach K gets a lot of bucks and bennies

CBT: ACC will include all 14 teams in tournament