Gainesville, FL (CSTV U-WIRE) -- When Billy Donovan and the Gators travel to Arkansas this weekend, don't expect a reunion with Matt Walsh.

The former UF guard who spent the last few months playing for the Arkansas RimRockers of the NBA Development League is no longer with the team.

What exactly caused the split, however, remains unclear.

Both Walsh and Arkansas general manager Otis Birdsong agree that Walsh left the team last Friday. That's where the agreement ends.

"I met with the owner, general manger and the coach to get answers to where they saw me fitting in with the team and developing," Walsh said. "My concerns were getting better and trying to get back to the NBA.

"They wouldn't give me the answer, and I saw no light at the end of the tunnel."

Walsh decided to forgo his final season at UF and enter June's NBA Draft. Though he wasn't drafted, the Miami Heat signed him to a two-year deal worth $1.2 million. He was waived shortly after the season began but collected half the money because the first year of the contract was guaranteed.

Walsh said he would continue training and might play in Europe or try to sign a 10-day contract in the NBA.

"We addressed and answered every question Matt had," said Birdsong, a four-time NBA All-Star with the Kansas City Kings and New Jersey Nets. "The problem was that Matt wanted Coach [Andy] Stoglin to promise he'd start him and that he would be playing a certain amount of minutes. I want to play the players who deserve to play."

Birdsong admitted that former RimRockers coach Joe Harge, who was fired last week, probably didn't give Walsh a fair shot to play because Walsh arrived after training camp. He averaged just 8.4 point in 21.2 minutes from 11 games with the RimRockers. But Birdsong claimed Stoglin said he would play Walsh extended minutes last weekend and run plays for him.

Birdsong said the RimRockers flew to Fayetteville, N.C., last weekend, but Walsh didn't show up at the team van for practice. He said Walsh did not return cell phone calls and said an assistant coach even had security open his hotel door to make sure he wasn't in trouble. Instead, Birdsong said, he was gone.

But Walsh said he never checked into a room and told an assistant coach he was leaving the team.

"I watched [the coach] go up to the front desk and say, ‘We don't need a room for Matt Walsh,'" Walsh said.

Walsh's agent, Jason Levien, said he asked the team to trade or release his client. Birdsong said he explored trade opportunities but claimed the RimRockers needed a power forward and teams were only willing to trade another guard for Walsh.

He also said he wouldn't release Walsh without receiving something in return, and if he waived an unhappy player, it would set the wrong precedent for the NBDL.

Birdsong said Walsh never had the right attitude. But the general manager did praise former UF guard Anthony Roberson, who is also with the RimRockers.

"Matt didn't handle himself like a professional," Birdsong said. "I'm not trying to speak ill of him, but at times, he didn't want to practice, and he said he was hurt even though he wasn't hurt. He really just didn't want to practice.

"He's a very good shooter, but I didn't see him coming early or staying late to work on his game. He has to get stronger. He's not a good defensive player, his lateral movements are not that good, he's not strong inside and he never goes to the basket. No one is going to just let you stand out and shoot."

Denying Birdsong's claims, Walsh said Billy Donovan, Pat Riley or Stan Van Gundy would gladly praise his work ethic.

"When I was there, I did everything they asked me to do," Walsh said. "I did everything I could to help the team win and also get better. No matter what I did, things just weren't working out [with the RimRockers]. I don't want to get into specifics, but [Arkansas] wasn't one of the best organizations I've ever been around."

(C) 2006 Independent Florida Alligator via CSTV U-WIRE