Memphis' vacated season
Stories on Derrick Rose's eligibility mess
Those watching the end of the 24-hour hoops marathon Tuesday night should see some classics. Gonzaga vs. Michigan State. Arkansas vs. Louisville. Memphis vs. Kansas.
The final two are part of the Naismith Hall of Fame Classic and features four of the game’s most successful programs.
Not that those four exhibited Hall of Fame behavior during the offseason. Rob Dauster at Ballin’ Is a Habit thinks the tourney name is worthy of a little irony. Perhaps the Role Models Classic? I mean, do you remember what kind of offseason those four had?
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Every scandal needs a villain. In the case of Memphis’ vacated Final Four season, two have emerged. But I’m unclear why there aren’t three.
Popular opinion is saddling John Calipari with most of the blame. No surprise there. Coach Cal was Memphis’ coach since 2000 and turned the Tigers into a national title contender. Anything regarding the program – victories, recruiting, publicity, compliance – falls to Calipari.
The NCAA also is taking some heat. But there's enough blame to spread to Derrick Rose, too.
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The “I told you sos” will surely come Kentucky’s way. But I’m not sure school officials will lose too much sleep over them. They knew this was coming.
It sounds batty – cocksure, perhaps – to suggest that Kentucky isn’t worried about NCAA allegations regarding Memphis’ 2007-08 men’s basketball season. After all, that’s where new Wildcats coach John Calipari spent the previous nine seasons. The 2007-08 season was a biggie, too. Calipari helped lead the team to a Final Four berth and an NCAA record 38 victories that season.
Yet, it’s one player on that team – reportedly Derrick Rose, now a guard with the Chicago Bulls – who is the focal point of those NCAA allegations of “knowing fraudulence or misconduct” on an SAT exam, not Calipari. The coach will cooperate with the investigation, and Kentucky made clear that he “is not at risk of being charged with any NCAA violations in this case.”
In fact, Calipari told Kentucky about the allegations during his March job interview. How’s that for be upfront with your prospective employer?
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