Fire Tubby?

Shagari Alleyene is no longer a part of the University of Kentucky basketball team. He has been ruled academically ineligible. No one can say they didn’t see this coming he has been threatened with an athletes most prized possession; playing time. He has been benched numerous times and even suspended games for not getting his grades up. Hopefully Shagari can go to a school that is less academically taxing and get on a team.

I’m sure there are plenty of schools out there that would be more than willing to take the 7′ 3” giant. Good luck Shag.

You can read the MAXTRACK ALAN CUTLER coverage in the link above.

(thanks CE)

Here is a recap of the news stories that I didn’t write about during my unannounced (and unforgivable) vacation. Thanks for sticking around.

Tubby Smith honored in Tulsa –

Former University of Tulsa and current Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith returned to Tulsa to accept the 2006 Legacy Award from the Greenwood Cultural Center.

Smith was selected for his career accomplishments, including a college basketball national championship at Kentucky, and his “earnest commitment to youth and the community,” said GCC board president Dwain Midget.

Regardless of what you think of Tubby as a coach, he “seems” to be a friendly, playful guy and does a lot of good things for the community both here in Lexington and his previous coaching stops.
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Kentucky pays $183,803 for every basketball player -

No, no no, don’t get your underoos in a bunch. We aren’t going Claude Bassett again and paying players. This number comes from the U.S. Department of Education (pull a number out of our…uuuuhm hats division) about how much it costs to put each player on the court. This article probably doesn’t mean anything in the end but it’s an interesting read nonetheless. Sorry it’s from a UT site.
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Tyler Smith picks Iowa over Kentucky -
One of the top 50 senior recruits chose Iowa over UK. Unfortunate. He chooses to go to Iowa with Steve frickin’ Alford? Did you hear that that Iowa recently changed their name from the Hawkeyes to the Corn? You know, like syracuse Orangemen to Orange. Same difference except in Iowa.
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More old news later.

Looks like our buddy Mr. Positive Gregg Doyel is on the warpath again. In his current article he talks about the falling giants in college basketball for next season. Among the schools on the list are Arizona, Maryland, Michigan State, and you guessed it our very own University of Kentucky WIIIILDCATS!! Who knows, maybe he’s right. Only next season will tell. I hope to hell not. What do you think UK nation?

Thanks CE!

Rekalin Sims has notified Tubby that he wishes to transfer. This wasn’t really a big surprise since his playing time all but disappeared after he had some injury problems last season. This will also free up another scholarship for another freshman. Read more about it here:

ESPN article
Courier Journal article

The freefall has started. Rondo is all the way down to #24 this week. He was 16th the last time I checked in about a week ago. On the other front Shagari is surging upward in next years draft up to #56. Good to see Shagari have another solid week.

update:

nbadraft.net article regarding the Rondo slippage.

On the same day that the projected overall #1 Tyrus Thomas announced that he will be entering the draft and Big Baby announced that he won’t, Rondo’s projected position is back to #16. The previous mock draft had him at #18.

Shagari is #57 this time around on the 2007 board. Up two spots from #59. Way to go big guy. Keep up whatever you are doing. I think I’ve said this before, but wow. Just wow.

Adam Williams has chosen Marshall as the best school for him to continue his basketball career. In a quote from the HL Adam said:

“I have a great amount of respect for Kentucky basketball,” Williams said in announcing the decision to transfer. “But my love of playing basketball is even higher.”

Like I mentioned before, a school the caliber of Marshall is a much better fit for him considering how guard heavy the recruiting has been lately.

Adam Williams has announced that he has asked for and been granted a release from his scholarship. This one day after Rondo announced he is going pro. I believe this still puts the cats one scholarship over considering the incoming freshman next year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least one more player leave.

Adam’s father was quoted as saying that “Kentucky could recruit 200 to 300 Adam Williams’”. He is probably right. I have no doubt that Adam could be very productive somewhere like Marshall or Morehead State. I saw Adam get some playing time in the Blue/White scrimmage before last season and he seemed quite athletic. Good luck to him and it’s good to see an athlete that isn’t content to just wear the jersey. I wish some of the other players on the team had his desire to be successful.

Rondo has decided to enter the 2006 NBA draft. He will be hiring an agent. Two years and done for Rondo. He says he believes his position in the first round is strong. Read more about it here.

If he really has heard from specific teams about his draft position I don’t blame him one bit. The chance to make that amount of money is a once in a thousand lifetimes opportunity. If he is indeed drafted in the first round, his very first contract will change his life and the lives of everyone in his family. I hope he got better advice than Randolph Morris. Good luck.

It’s a good day for the SEC. Florida looked utterly dominating in the tournament. LSU made a strong run all the way to the final four. The SEC outperformed the mighty ACC. No Duke, no UNC. Felt good didn’t it.

It’s a bad day for Kentucky fans. Whether you like Tubby or not, it’s never fun to see an SEC team besides Kentucky win a championship. More later.