College Basketball Notes

ESPN has two pieces of note this morning. First, the NCAA alleges that Derrick Rose might not have taken his own SAT (if one reads between the lines). It sounds like the only punishment being discussed is vacating Rose’s Final Four, but even that would suck for Memphis, a program whose best days are behind it. Unlike with Kelvin Sampson, no penalties (even if the allegations are proven true) would follow Calipari to UK. This will obviously be high profile, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it ultimately comes to nothing. Yes, I still wish Calipari had come to NC State.

On the shocking front, mad bomber Terrence Oglesby will leave Clemson to play professionally in Europe. Oglesby did seem like something of a head case, but the Tigers will now be without two of their three leading scores from last season. This development likely means more playing time for Clemson’s other goofy looking white guy, Tanner Smith.

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

General

54 Responses to College Basketball Notes

  1. wufpup76 05/28/2009 at 9:11 AM #

    I think Smith is an overall upgrade over Ogelsby … TO could light it up – but could flat shoot Clemson out of it too.

    Sure to be plenty of discussion about Calimari …

  2. primacyone 05/28/2009 at 9:17 AM #

    The DR situation may have enough ammo to get intersting. This could severly damage the entire reputation of the history of UK Basketball. How could anyone be comfortable with a Coach that has had two Final Fours vacated?

    Glad Cal is not at NCSU and the N&O is chasing his rear end on this subject. Geese, could you imagine if this was NCSU they were talking about instead of Memphis?

  3. Clarksa 05/28/2009 at 9:23 AM #

    “Yes, I still wish Calipari had come to NC State.”

    I the words of John McEnroe…you can’t be serious. Two schools, two (possible) vacated Final Fours? Yeah…he would have been great at NC State.

  4. tdawg 05/28/2009 at 9:25 AM #

    “Yes, I still wish Calipari had come to NC State.”

    ha ha, you guys still wish Calipari had come here, despite the troubles that seem to haunt a school after he leaves? I guess winning is more important than integrity to you guys, eh?

  5. Classof89 05/28/2009 at 10:08 AM #

    I’d rather become to ACC Basketball what Duke is to ACC football then ever have someone as sleazy as Calipari coach here…

  6. Tampa-Pack 05/28/2009 at 10:22 AM #

    ^ Class of – are we really that far away from where Duke is in football? We haven’t finished higher than what 10th? in the last three seasons? Yes we have upside, but every year someone is also saying this is Duke’s year to not suck so bad.

    I am not a fan of Cal, but he (and Memphis) are going to be completly clear of this. They are putting it all on one player – this likely could and does happen many places (with respect to the cheating on the SAT). I can’t believe a “major violation” will allow nothing more than a loss of some previous wins. Yes it was alot, and yes they have to delete thier final four appearance, but really that’s all??

  7. thebigwood 05/28/2009 at 10:33 AM #

    I agree Tampa…Seriously, what difference does this make to Calipari, Rose, and probably most of the Memphis fans? Probably nothing.

  8. BJD95 05/28/2009 at 10:39 AM #

    Who says our integrity is anything to be proud of? People just assume that because we lose so much.

    Except for maybe Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and Standford, everybody plays by pretty much the same rules, and everybody looks the other way regarding certain behavior/transgressions.

    I would also remind you that Memphis hasn’t suffered any sanctions YET – just a bad media cycle. Do you think Tiger fans would really trade the Calipari experience in for 5 or so years of C-USA mediocrity (but no bad press)?

    Agree with Tampa that we aren’t far away from being Duke football, either. And yes, it can and does happen all the time (fraudulent SAT tests). A reliable source passed along a tidbit about exactly the same thing regarding another program with a well-respected coach. He escaped the NCAA hammer because it is a very, very hard charge to PROVE. And it might not end up being proven wrt Memphis and Rose, either.

  9. primacyone 05/28/2009 at 11:11 AM #

    ^ “Who says our integrity is anything to be proud of?”

    I do. I think it is.

    I don’t know anyone that thinks otherwise. Hell, we fired one of the best coahes in our history for a player selling some sneakers and recruiting a player with some low SAT scores (whom did take the test himself).

    I’m dang glad this is about Memphis instead of NC State. Had Cal come here, he could be at UK right now with his money and his boys and we’d be dealing with the bad media cycle, the holes, the dukies, and the potential sanctions/forfeits and everything else related.

    I don’t recall any NC State season ever being forfeited, and would hope it stays that way.

  10. 61Packer 05/28/2009 at 12:13 PM #

    Integrity? Had Calipari come here instead of Memphis and then bolted to UK, I doubt we’d be any worse off in the media and public eye than we already are with Oblinger, the BOT, Mary Easley and Jed.

    NCSU- we don’t forfeit basketball seasons, just basketball programs.

  11. kyjelly 05/28/2009 at 1:34 PM #

    Oh yes look how lucky we are without Cal? We have done nothing and even with this “glowing” incoming class, we will be hard pressed to make the ncaat.
    So unlike the boy’s over at wolf pack hoops who sing Sid’s praises I would love to see some improvement.

  12. primacyone 05/28/2009 at 2:05 PM #

    So you guys would rather Cal have come, taken us to a Final 4 with DR, left for Kentucky, taken 2-3 recruits/comits with him, left us probably still in a coaching search at this point for a team that needs a complete rebuilding again while at the exact same time looking at the possiblity of forfeiting an entire season, vacating a final four appearance, and having to tear down a banner in the RBC with complete shame and ridicule just a couple months after UNC raised their new banner.

    You would really be happy with all of that?

    I wouldn’t.

  13. VaWolf82 05/28/2009 at 2:38 PM #

    Reading comprehension and rational thought seem to be at low tide today. The NCAA is trying to determine if an SAT test was invalid. If they determine that the test was invalid, then they have to figure out if anyone at Memphis knew about it. Some of you are acting like the NCAA has pictures or something.

    For all of those blaming everything on Calipari, would you explain:

    – How Calipari was involved with a fraudulent SAT test?
    – Why would UK say that Coach John Calipari has received a letter from the NCAA stating that he is not at risk of being charged with any NCAA violations in this case. if such a letter did not exist?
    – Why would the NCAA issue such a letter if they had any reason to think that Calipari knew or participated in the fraudulent SAT test?
    – Why would Memphis investigate a student once they were passed by the NCAA Clearinghouse?

    The NCAA may have a smoking gun. But if they do, they certainly haven’t released any information about it.

  14. PackerInRussia 05/28/2009 at 2:47 PM #

    At this point, I might settle for vacated Final Fours. It beats no Final Fours. It’s not like they’re going to erase the memory of the fans who enjoyed the season.

  15. bradleyb123 05/28/2009 at 3:56 PM #

    ^ “I’d rather become to ACC Basketball what Duke is to ACC football then ever have someone as sleazy as Calipari coach here…”

    Isn’t that what we’ve done?

  16. bradleyb123 05/28/2009 at 3:58 PM #

    ^ “ha ha, you guys still wish Calipari had come here, despite the troubles that seem to haunt a school after he leaves? I guess winning is more important than integrity to you guys, eh?”

    BJD (in this blog) is the only State fan I know that still wishes we got Calipari a few years ago. Please consider that when you make comments that begin with “you guys…” 🙂

  17. NCSUownzJoo 05/28/2009 at 4:44 PM #

    Some of you will say ANYTHING to defend an absolutely ludicrous position. Calipari probably didn’t know? Are you freaking kidding me?!?

    First of all it alleges “knowing fraudulence or misconduct” on an SAT exam.

    So let me get this right, someone at memphis KNEW about this misconduct and yet didn’t tell Calipari? That’s got to be the single-most naive thing I’ve ever seen stated on this board.

    BTW BJD, everytime i see that “objective” part in your tag line. It totally cracks me up.

    And I absolutely cannot fathom anybody making the statement “I still wish Calipari had come to State” after this crap. BJD you basically insenuated that we do the same thing. First of all, do you have anything to back that up other than your opinion? Second, I absolutely CANNOT believe you’re sitting here making excuses for and supporting the act of cheating. That’s a disgrace… speaking of a lack of integrity

  18. VaWolf82 05/28/2009 at 4:53 PM #

    So let me get this right, someone at memphis KNEW about this misconduct and yet didn’t tell Calipari?

    Please quote the line (in something other than your post) and provide a link to an article that states that ANYONE at Memphis had any knowledge of improprieties in an SAT test. Until then, your indignation is misplaced.

  19. NCSUownzJoo 05/28/2009 at 4:55 PM #

    the article states “knowing fraudulence or misconduct” on his SAT.

    I’d say that qualifies as someone at Memphis knew of improprieties in an SAT test.

  20. NCSUownzJoo 05/28/2009 at 5:02 PM #

    The Memphis men’s basketball program has been charged by the NCAA with major violations during the 2007-08 season under former coach John Calipari.

    The Memphis Commercial Appeal first reported the story on Wednesday after obtaining a letter detailing the allegations through the Freedom of Information Act.

    The allegations include “knowing fraudulence or misconduct” on an SAT exam by a player on the 2007-08 team.

    That’s the specific comment I was referring to. The allegations were toward Memphis. Anything else?

  21. VaWolf82 05/28/2009 at 5:07 PM #

    Try reading the whole article:

    It’s important to note that there are no allegations against John Calipari in the report,

    Coach John Calipari has received a letter from the NCAA stating that he is not at risk of being charged with any NCAA violations in this case.

  22. NCSUownzJoo 05/28/2009 at 5:11 PM #

    As I said before, if you think someone at Memphis knew that he cheated on his SAT’s and they didn’t tell calipari…. You just can’t be that naive… really?

  23. ADVENTUROO 05/28/2009 at 7:09 PM #

    I, for ONE, am GLAD that Calipari or Calimari or however you spell it, is NOT at NCSU. I think that our “one NIGHT stand” was purely for HIS benefit. At LEAST we did NOT get an STD from the sleazy encounter.

    ESPN and others are reporting the SOMEONE ELSE took the SAT for Derrick Rose. I took MY SAT in 1962 (we had to use stone tablets and hammers and they would NOT permit the use of an Abucus…). EVEN THEN, we had to SHOW ID.

    Are we REALLY to believe that this “super intelligent” Mr. Rose had the MENTAL capacity to TOTALLY pull this off…with his own undersized cranial cavity?

    There is MORE to this story than we will EVER KNOW…

    I would THINK that a COACH would make sure that he was getting a BONA FIDE player. One would think that if Mr. Rose’s SAT Scores were “elevated” and that his grades in high/prep school were LOWER than CaL’s Morals, that SOMEONE would have put 2 & 2 together and come up (help me here, Derrick….with DUH…UH…FOUR??).

    NOPE….He just TESTS on the SAT BETTER than his grades show and the fact that his “general outward” intelligence borders on retardation…that SOMEONE in the Memphis AD’s office or Admissions Office would have figured this out…

    NOPE…the FIX was IN…just as sure as Obama would be backed the UAW, Memphis had their SUPER STAR.

    I hope that UK is “happy” with their coach….the fact that he “indicated” that an NCAA item might “pop up” was KNOWN to them…but HEY…he knows HOW to WIN…both ON and OFF( in the SAT arena) Court.

    I WOULD NOT TRADE SIDNEY FOR THREE CAL’s…

    GO PACK…

    VINDICATION…Lee was Mesmerized (and also got his “jollies” in the One NIGHT stand)…typical..

    MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, Ms. Mary (Sleazley), QUITE CONTRARY, will take DOWN both Bowles and Oblinger…that is OUR only hope.

  24. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 05/28/2009 at 7:28 PM #

    “I guess winning is more important than integrity to you guys, eh?”

    Please define integrity in the framework of college athletics. No one wants cheats or criminals I’ll give you that.

    In your mind Calipari doesn’t have it but I guess coaches Williams and K do? If you don’t understand that the business of college athletics is a dirty business run by big money- you can live comfortably with you head in the sand.

    I think we can agree that following the rules is the right course for NC State and all programs but don’t confuse that with the idea that coaches like Bowden, Williams, Smith, K, Sloan, Valvano and many others win because they live to some higher moral standard. They all want to win and none of them would think twice about who they lie, cheat and steal from to do get championships and big contracts.

  25. VaWolf82 05/28/2009 at 8:27 PM #

    As I said before, if

    Get back to me if and when your hypothetical is proven. Until then, it’s just speculation on your part.

Leave a Reply