Chris Walker Suspended 2 Games: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Florida forward Chris Walker has been suspended for the Gators' first two games of the 2014-15 regular season and a preseason exhibition for a violation of team rules, head coach Billy Donovan announced at media day Wednesday.

Donovan did not disclose why Walker was suspended, per a report by The Associated Press (via ESPN). Andy Hutchins of Alligator Army pointed out that a three-game suspension is typically doled out to a player who failed a second drug test, though it is unclear if that applies to Walker.

The highly regarded sophomore will miss an exhibition against Barry University on Nov. 6 along with opening games against William & Mary and Miami. 

“It'll be tough, but I can get through it,” Walker said, per Kevin Brockway of GatorSports.com.

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Along with Walker's suspension, Donovan announced freshman Brandone Francis has been ruled academically ineligible and will not play this season. A 4-star recruit and No. 32 player overall in the Class of 2014, per 247Sports' composite rankings, Francis' absence leaves Donovan without an expected contributor due to NCAA eligibility issues for the second straight season.

The one last year, of course, was Walker, who missed the Gators' first 20 games of 2013-14 after receiving impermissible benefits and dealing with academic issues.

Viewed as a potential NBA lottery pick upon arriving in Gainesville, Walker's 20-game absence left him behind the eight ball on a team competing for a national championship. Walker averaged just 1.9 points and 1.3 rebounds in 4.8 minutes per game for the Gators, getting 10 minutes of playing time in only a single game.

With a bevy of veterans from last season's team playing professionally or out of eligibility, Walker enters his sophomore season with high expectations. He's still viewed as a potential lottery pick, though not nearly the lock he was a year ago. His expected ascent is also being baked into Florida's preseason expectations, with most pundits having the Gators as a top-10 unit. 

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"I think the biggest thing, his biggest challenge this year, is going to be his ability to manage expectations," Donovan said in The Associated Press report. "You hear all these expectations, and people look at the fact that he's gotten physically strong and everything else. He has such a long way to go in terms of being reliable, accountable and disciplined. Those would be the three things I would say I don't have a real good grasp on right now, but we're going to find out."

Walker is expected to help anchor the middle of the defense upon his return. A lanky 6'10" forward with an explosive leaping ability, he should give the Gators a shot-blocking presence and be an open-court menace in the rare opportunities Donovan allows his team to run.

Walker will return when the Gators play Louisiana-Monroe on Nov. 21.

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