Virginia men's basketball coach Tony Bennett says senior forward Jamil Tucker is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team.

Bennett said in a news release Wednesday that Tucker needs time off to deal with some issues. The first-year Cavaliers coach declined to provide more specifics during a conference call.

The six-foot-nine-inch Tucker, from Gary, Indiana, played in all 28 games and started four last year. He averaged 7.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

Virginia also will be without seven-foot center Assane Sene when it opens the season Friday night against Longwood. Sene is suspended for three games for conduct detrimental to the team.