Rodney Purvis will be forced to miss UConn's season-opener

One day before its season is to start, national champion Connecticut has announced shooting guard Rodney Purvis will not play in the team's Friday opener. The home game against Bryant will be without Purvis' services because the NCAA ruled he played too much officially organized summer-league basketball.

The sophomore sat all of last season in a redshirt year after transferring from North Carolina State.

It's a ruling that ultimately shouldn't hurt UConn -- the Huskies are an overwhelming favorite against Bryant -- but again shines light on ineligbility rules that have now affected three 2014 NCAA Tournament teams heading into this season. Reasons for forcing players to miss games vary, and many are seen as short-sighted, if not altogether ridiculous.

Purvis averaged 8.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 2012-13 for N.C. State.