Senior center Matt Kavanaugh has been suspended for the year by the University of Dayton, the university announced Wednesday. Kavanaugh, a Centerville product, started for the Flyers last season and had a breakthough year.

He was fifth on the team with a 9.0 scoring average and second in rebounding at 5.9.

“Matt Kavanaugh is suspended for the remainder of the academic year as a result of violations of the University of Dayton Standards of Behavior and Code of Conduct,” the statement said. ” Therefore, he will not play on the basketball team this season.

Athletic director Tim Wabler and coach Archie Miller said they met with Kavanaugh and his family Wednesday morning about the matter and after the university informed him of the suspension.

Neither Wabler nor Miller would speak about the reason behind Kavanaugh’s dismissal. But university spokesperson Teri Rizvi said the player isn’t facing any criminal charges.

“When something like this happens, it’s a very serious matter,” Wabler said. “Our student-athletes are students first and athletes after that and are expected to live as part of the community of the University of Dayton.

“This is quite a jolt to the program. But what we really need to focus on are the student-athletes who are left in the program and coaches to make sure they know they have our full support.”

Kavanaugh was elected co-captain this season and was expected to log major minutes while providing leadership.

“Obviously, our team is disappointed — disappointed for a fellow teammate a lot of them are very close to,” Miller said. “As a staff, it’s disappointing. But at the same time, each and every individual and the coaches have to rally and have a heightened sense of awareness. The opportunity now changes for different people, and we’ll move forward because that’s what kids do.”

Kavanaugh is eligible to seek reinstatement to the university in May 2013.