Matadors Welcome Back Minor; Harris Stays Away

Greg Minor faced the music and was welcomed back by the Cal State Northridge basketball team.

Rico Harris stayed away, and it will probably stay that way.

Minor and Harris, suspended for two games last week for breaking team rules, were to meet Monday with Coach Bobby Braswell, then explain to the team why they should be reinstated before this week’s Big Sky Conference tournament.

Minor, the team’s leading three-point shooter, met with Braswell, talked with teammates, practiced, then vowed his problems were behind him.

Harris, the leading rebounder, didn’t show up and didn’t return repeated calls from Braswell.

“It felt good to be back,” Minor said. “This is the most important time of the year. If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn’t have [broken the rules].”

Team captain Derrick Higgins said Braswell told the players they could decide whether to accept Minor and Harris back on the team.

“When Greg came by himself it made it easy,” Higgins said. “It showed he cared and that he wants to help the team. We knew Greg cared. With the other guy it’s a tougher call.”

Harris, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound junior forward, transferred from L.A. City College with high expectations. He passed up a scholarship offer to Rhode Island and NBA scouts have watched him with interest for three years.

Although he averaged 11.7 points and 6.6 rebounds, Harris has seemed indifferent at times and was suspended for a game at Tennessee in December. He also missed five nonconference games with a leg injury.

Minor is averaging 9.2 points and has made 59 of 142 three-point shots.

“Greg and I met and came up with some resolutions,” Braswell said. “The door is not closed on Rico. If I hear from him [Tuesday], we will talk.”