Martin: Thornwell made a ‘mental mistake,’ will return

Frank Martin made it clear Friday that Sindarius Thornwell will return this season, but there is still no answer as to when.

“If you ask me a question, ‘When is he coming back?,’ I’m not going to answer you, because if I knew when he was coming back, I wouldn’t have released the statement that we released,” Martin said. “He’ll be back. He’s earned equity around here.”

Thornwell was indefinitely suspended before Sunday’s win over Florida International. He is allowed to do everything but play, including practicing and traveling with the team to New York for Monday’s game against Seton Hall.

Yet he won’t play against the Pirates, and there’s no certainty, according to Martin, when he will play, only that he eventually will.

“At the end of the day, we all fall under one umbrella, which is the University of South Carolina,” Martin said. “We all have to conduct and act and follow the laws and the rules that have been created by this institution. And when they’re not, you don’t play favorites because somebody’s a good player and somebody’s a lesser player.”

Thornwell is the No. 19 Gamecocks’ leading scorer and rebounder. He was named MVP of the last New York trip USC took, when it beat Syracuse in Brooklyn on Nov. 26.

Senior Justin McKie started in Thornwell’s place against FIU.

Martin said Thornwell made a “mental mistake” in order to get suspended but offered no further details. The Gamecocks leave Sunday for New York.

This story was originally published December 9, 2016 at 2:16 PM with the headline "Martin: Thornwell made a ‘mental mistake,’ will return."