Jan. 30, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina's Ousmane Konate has left the basketball team for the second time this month and coach Dave Odom says it's unlikely the reserve center will play again.

Odom said the 6-foot-10 junior from Senegal had personal issues he needed to handle.

Konate also took a leave of absence from the team before the Gamecocks' 84-50 loss to Florida on Jan. 13. At the time, Odom said he needed to figure out where basketball fit into his life.

Konate suited up again for South Carolina's 66-60 win against Arkansas. He played 3 minutes.

Konate has played in 11 games this season, averaging just under 8 minutes an appearance with 1.6 points and two rebounds a game.

His departure leaves the Gamecocks with only one regular, 6-9 Brandon Wallace, taller than 6-7.

Mitchell Carter, a 6-11 freshman, has played in 26 minutes in seven games - and none since an 87-49 loss to Kentucky on Jan. 16.