By Bill Koch
Cincinnati Enquirer

GREENVILLE, S.C. - The B.J. Grove reclamation project lasted all of three days.

When the University of Cincinnati Bearcats boarded a plane in Newark, N.J., on Thursday to travel to Clemson for a game Sunday, Grove was on his way back to Cincinnati. UC coach Bob Huggins apparently had given up on the 6-foot-11 senior center.

"He's not going to get where he's supposed to get," Huggins said.

Grove, who was attempting to reach the 270-pound playing weight mandated by Huggins, made the trip for UC's Tuesday game against Oregon so he could participate in supervised workouts. Grove was believed to weigh about 290 pounds.

"I don't think he's dedicated enough to get to 270," Huggins said.

Grove was in uniform for the Oregon game and participated in the pre-game warm-up routine, but didn't play.

"I was trying to help him," Huggins said.

But sometime Wednesday, Huggins decided that he had seen enough, called Grove to his hotel room and told Grove that he wouldn't accompany the team here for the rest of the seven-day trip.

Huggins said wouldn't completely rule out the possibility that Grove could play if he reaches the 270-pound level, but said he's convinced it's not going to happen.

Asked if he would take Grove back if he reached the mandated weight in a month or so, Huggins said, "If it takes a month, he can't help us."