Tennessee junior center Major Wingate has been suspended from basketball team activities because of a violation of team rules and university policy.

Vols' coach Bruce Pearl would not comment Sunday on the specifics of the suspension, but he confirmed Wingate will be disciplined internally this summer.

Pearl said Wingate is not expected to miss any games next season. Wingate will begin work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley this week.

"Major has done so many wonderful things this year, on and off the court, it pains me to have to do this,'' Pearl said. "But at the same time, there's a culture that has been allowed to exist that can't be tolerated.''

Wingate, named Friday a Lowell Blanchard Award winner as one of the Vols' most improved players at the annual awards banquet, averaged 10.6 points and four rebounds a game last season, helping the Vols to a 22-8 record and the SEC East division championship.