Behanan will not practice or be involved in team-related activities while he sits out.
Pitino said the suspension "will be a long time" and that Behanan's sanctions are a culmination of a multiple "little things that when you add them up, they're pretty big."
Under normal circumstances, you could see him before Christmas," Pitino said. "But with Chane, it's just been one week and he's already violated" an arrangement by U of L's staff to get him back on the court.
"It's going to keep getting added to his indefinite suspension. That's the only reason I say it. I don't have a whole lot of confidence moving forward that he's going to do the things we've asked him to do."
Pitino guaranteed that Behanan will not play in November and could return in December, though he said that's doubtful. The coach made it clear Thursday: "Chane Behanan is no longer a part of our basketball team."
Behanan, who started 37 of the 39 games he played last season, is still in school at U of L but not living in the team dorm, Pitino said. He averaged 9.8 points and 6.5 rebounds on the Cardinals' national championship team.
Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich met recently and made the decision to suspend Behanan, a Cincinnati native who came to U of L out of Bowling Green High School.
"He just has a very difficult time understanding life's values and the significance of life's values," Pitino said. "We're going to try to help him along. We're more interested in Chane the man than the basketball player."
Pitino didn't elaborate on what Behanan did, though he said the junior "wouldn't hurt a fly" and it's nothing violent.
"This is a difficult one because the kid is a loveable young man. He's a loveable guy. He really is," Pitino said. "But if we don't do something now, he has no chance to prosper later in life. We're just using him for his basketball skills.
"This is not about basketball. This is about Chane Behanan becoming the person I think he can become."
Behanan also served a one-game suspension at the beginning of last season for a violation of team rules and was off limits to media for the fall 2012 semester.
"We have very lofty goals," Pitino said. "When you're going for a third Final Four and your team has put in 100 percent to reach these lofty goals and one person has not bought in, it just doesn't work. He's letting his team down. It's very easy in life to let yourself down — point the finger at the mirror and you're hurting one person.
"When there are 12 other guys, that's when it's really disappointing, and that's what Chane's doing with his behavior."
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