Posts Tagged “Memphis Tigers”
Memphis appeals NCAA ruling on vacated 2007-2008 season
By: Guy | October 10th, 2009 | Category: SportsAs soon as the NCAA ruled that the University of Memphis would have to vacate all games won by the 2007-2008 Tigers, Memphis made it clear that it would appeal. Today, after an open records request by Dan Wolken of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, we learned about the schools argument.
Memphis does not deny that violations took place, namely the use of a player later determined to be ineligible, but argues that the NCAA’s assertion that Memphis was “strictly liable” for the violation is not accurate or supported by precendence:
Memphis’ appeal, which was obtained by The Commercial Appeal through the Freedom of Information Act, calls the NCAA’s use of that rationale a “procedural error” that is not supported by current NCAA legislation. Furthermore, the school argues that by upholding the penalties given to Memphis under the “strict-liability” standard, it sets a precedent that “will apply to (future) situations that do not warrant such treatment and could result in outcomes unacceptable to the Division 1 membership.”
In the report, the school found just one other example of the term “strict liability” being used in an NCAA decision — a November 2008 case involving Indiana’s basketball program.
Memphis, however, argues that the context of the phrase in Indiana’s case is different, relating to the adherence of former coach Kelvin Sampson to penalties that were issued from his time at Oklahoma before changing jobs.
In essence, Memphis’s argument is the same one that basically every UK fan has used to defend John Calipari: Memphis nor anyone associated with the program had any reason to believe that Derrick Rose was ineligible, therefore he played. He was ruled ineligible after the fact by the NCAA, so how is it fair to hold the school fully responsible for playing him when he was initially approved to play by the NCAA Clearinghouse:
Memphis also states in the appeal that it found three secondary violations cases (but no major infractions cases) in which student-athletes were certified as eligible by the NCAA and the school but later ruled ineligible based on new information. In none of those cases were records vacated.
“In each case, the institution was held responsible for having allowed the student-athlete to compete, but the consequences of that participation were clearly mitigated by an evaluation of the facts, including the determination that the institution had relied on the NCAA certification and that it did not have a reason to withhold the student-athlete at the time he competed,” the appeal states.
In arguing for a reduction in penalties, Memphis cites two cases in which the Infractions Appeals Committee ruled that four factors should be considered before a vacation-of-records penalty. Those factors include academic fraud, serious intentional violations, direct involvement of a coach or high-ranking administrator and a large number of violations. Memphis argues that it was not accused of any of those factors by the Committee on Infractions.
Once the appeal is received by the NCAA, the Committee on Infractions will have 30 days to issue a response. Memphis can submit a rebuttal 14 days after that, at which point the NCAA enforcement staff will make a written statement on Memphis’ appeal. Memphis gets 10 days to respond to the enforcement staff’s statement before a hearing is scheduled.
In case you skipped over that last paragraph, the bottom line is that this is not going to be a quick process. Does that really surprise with the NCAA involved?
Anyway, the football ‘Cats play in just over an hour and Big Blue Madness in a week…don’t waste too much time thinking about this!!!
Don’t call that 13th scholarship “open” just yet
By: Guy | August 21st, 2009 | Category: Cats
Early this evening, reports started to pour in that Eloy Vargas is currently on Kentucky’s campus visiting. First it was Evan Daniels, via Twitter, then Dustin Rumbaugh of Kentucky Sports Radio, then Jeff Goodman.
Vargas is not your typical campus visitor: he just finished his freshman year at Florida. He was the 33rd ranked player in the country in the class of 2008 and was a part of the Gators top 5 recruiting class. He’s a big man (6-10) with a bit of a slight frame (220) and a face up game. Despite his high ranking, he only played in 9 games all of last season due to an offseason ankle surgery, among other factors.
He has a bit of a reputation as a soft big man (sounds like a Gator, doesn’t he) but would seem to be a pretty logical fit in the dribble drive as a 4 man with his ability to put it on the deck.
This is also interesting because Vargas status with the Gators is uncertain to say the least. Just yesterday, Billy Donovan indicated that Vargas could be academically ineligible this season.
In all honesty, I have no idea what to make of this. It’s well publicized that John Calipari has one open scholarship that has looked like it could be filled by a number of different options: Xavier Henry, Matt Pilgrim, Elliot Williams, and most recently, Mark Krebs. I had expected Calipari to give Krebs a ride provisionally for this season and potentially have him return to walkon status next year.
Apparently Cal is still looking to fill the spot with a top level talent. If Vargas does indeed have academic issues, he would have a year at a new school, potentially UK, to get things in order while he sits out due to transfer. We will obviously monitor this situation and update you at the conclusion of the visit.
Also, one quick note about a player I mentioned in passing earlier. According to Gary Parrish, Josh Pastner and the Memphis Tigers have received some much deserved good news at the conclusion of a rough week for the program.
Duke transfer Elliot Williams has been granted a waiver by the NCAA to play next season due his mother’s battle with cancer, in a strangely logical decision by college sports ruling body. Good for Memphis and good for Williams and this should help Memphis to field yet another strong team next season.
Calipari Forced to Vacate Two Final Fours? Thoughts from UK Perspective.
By: nickev | August 20th, 2009 | Category: CatsIf Memphis is forced to vacate their final four appearance in 2008, it will be the second time that Calipari has been forced to vacate a final four. He also was forced to do so in 1996 with Massachusetts. This is not good and does not reflect well on a coach’s reputation.
After Tubby Smith left for Minnesota, Mitch Barnhart and company did not even interview Calipari for the position. Reason being, he had sort of a shady past and they felt they could bring in someone else with a cleaner record and the Program would carry the coach.
However, in came the fiasco that was Billy Clyde Gillispie. After two years of smirks, hard-headedness and downright stupidity, they had enough of Gillispie and handed him his walking papers.
Now the situation was different. It didn’t look like the Kentucky Basketball Program could stand on it’s own with just any ole’ coach. Now all of a sudden John Calipari WAS a candidate for the UK job.
When Calipari was officially hired as the next head basketball coach at the University of Kentucky in April, some were skeptical about his past and I am sure Barnhart and Lee Todd shared some of that skepticism. The mere fact that they didn’t see him as a candidate for the job just two years prior pretty much assures this.
Anytime a coach is forced to negate any type of accomplishment because of violations, it reflects badly on that coach. When it happens twice, you are trudging muddy waters.
As a head coach of a program, you are the face of the program, and are responsible for anything that happens under your watch. I don’t want to hear any of the, “he didn’t know” or “it isn’t his fault” crap. If something happened while he was at the helm, it is his fault.
However, John Calipari is now the head coach at the University of Kentucky. He will be the head coach at UK whether or not he is forced to vacate his second final four appearance.
When he was hired, sure I was excited. The proposition of Calipari and the Kentucky program together was a scary one. And his first five months on the job have proven that the Calipari-UK combo is to be feared for a reason. But, still that question lingered, “Will he run a clean program?”
You can only hope.
At UMass and Memphis, it appears that Calipari may have bent the rules a little bit to get players to commit to his program. I do not know everything that went down at UMass or Memphis, and am only knowledgeable of the Marcus Camby and Derrick Rose situation. It is my hope that they played for Calipari, not because of money or fake SAT scores, but because of his style of play and his track record of getting players to the next level.
At the University of Kentucky those two traits alone should be enough to get players to dress in blue and white. I also hope that these two traits are the reason that UK decided to hire Calipari.
Still, it is tough to overlook his past troubles. Also, the concern that he built his reputation by bending the rules at smaller schools in order to make himself a coaching candidate at a historical basketball power like Kentucky remains.
Look, the last thing that Barnhart wanted when he hired Calipari was to end up on probation in five years. He hired him because he thought he could and would run a clean program at UK.
His past digressions may have helped build his reputation. A reputation that got him the job as the head coach at the University of Kentucky. But, now he is at UK and there is nothing we can do about his past.
Let’s just hope that he puts those issues behind him, realizes that he doesn’t have to do that to be successful at UK and runs a clean, successful program.
If Kentucky does end up on probation in five years, we are all going to feel like this guy.
Memphis to vacate 2008 Final Four, 38 wins
By: Miller | August 20th, 2009 | Category: CatsThe University of Memphis will hold a press conference around 10:00 this morning and it is expected they will announce the vacating of all wins from their 2007-2008 season, as well as their Final Four appearance, according to reports from ESPN.com and the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Back in May, the NCAA accused Memphis of several infractions during the 2007-2008 basketball season, including a crooked SAT score involving Derrick Rose (even though the NCAA Clearinghouse approved it) and over $2,000 in free travel for Rose’s brother.
Coach Cal, this is not the time to raise the roof
Obviously, this is news due to the coach of the 2007-2008 Memphis Tigers is current UK basketball coach John Calipari. Being a UofL fan, I’ll leave this for Guy or Nickev to comment in regards to how this could/will affect University of Kentucky basketball, but from my perspective, vacating two Final Fours just looks bad. Here are the stories, the first from ESPN.com and the second from the Memphis Commercial Appeal:
SOURCES: NCAA MAY ‘VACATE’ MEMPHIS TIGERS VICTORIES
SOURCE: MEMPHIS TIGERS TO FORFEIT RECORD 2007-2008 SEASON
Update: The NCAA will release its report at 3:00 pm and Memphis will hold a presser shortly afterwards.
UK targets Adreian Payne, Joe Jackson showing interest
By: Guy | July 25th, 2009 | Category: CatsWith July AAU events coming to a close in the next few days in Las Vegas and Orlando, news is coming out about players scheduling official visits and narrowing lists. Two UK targets, Adreian Payne and Joe Jackson, are among that group of players.
5 star post player Adreian Payne has announced that his list is down to 5 (conveniently the same amount of official visits allowed each player). The schools are Kentucky, West Virginia, Kansas, Arizona, and Michigan State. Payne visited Lexington unofficially back in June, so this is an indication that the visit went well.
Based on what I have heard, Huggy Bear and West Virginia are UK’s biggest competition here, but Calipari is definitely in the mix.
Also, news has come out this weekend that top point guard Joe Jackson will visit UK officially in October, aka Big Blue Madness. Matt Jones talks about the gathering of high school stars that John Calipari is trying to put together for Calipari’s first official practice as UK coach, so it’s a possibility Payne could be a part of this as well.
Joe Jackson
Jackson, even though UK is on the list of the three other top ranked point guards (Brandon Knight, Josh Selby, and Kyrie Irving), is still a top target of the staff. Jackson is a Memphis kid and will be difficult to pry away from Memphis, but if Calipari puts the full court press on Jackson, it will be hard for him to resist in my opinion.
2009 Target Profile: Josh Selby
By: Guy | July 20th, 2009 | Category: CatsWith the news that he has decommitted from the Tennessee Volunteers and that Kentucky is widely thought to be a major player in his reopened recruitment, Josh Selby has become a name that must be known by UK fans following basketball recruiting. Since he was excluded from our breakdown of UK’s point guard targets due to his erstwhile commitment to the Vols, it’s about time we get to know the kid:
The Facts
Name: Josh Selby
Position: PG/SG
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180
High School: Lake Clifton-Eastern HS (Baltimore, MD)
AAU Team: Team Melo
Rankings: Rivals – #2 PG, #7 overall, Scout – #3 PG, #10 overall, ESPN – #6 PG, #24 overall
The Game
Selby is a scoring combo guard with elite athleticism and a big time competitive streak. He is an explosive scorer who can put the ball in the basket in a variety of ways: in transition, off of penetration, and from the perimeter.
He also shows his competitiveness on the defensive end. During the July camp season, he has consistently challenged other top level point guards he has matched up with on both ends and has been very impressive in doing so. He looks to score, but creates effectively for teammates.
He looks to do a little bit too much with the ball in his hands at times, but gets by with it more often than not due to his talent and athleticism. He has some growing to do before he can realize his potential at the next level, but is a major prospect.
The Story
Selby’s decommitment from Tennessee is highly publicized and a big loss for Bruce Pearl and the Vols. Lots of speculation is going on around Selby, particulary considering that it was confirmed that Worldwide Wes met with Selby at the LeBron James Skills Academy. Many say that Selby will now seek out a Nike school (UT is Adidas).
Adding to the fire, a frustrated Tony Jones (UT associate head coach) was quoted by GoVolsXtra saying “I’m not going to comment on any specific player, because I am not allowed to do that. I’ll just say something smells right now.’’
It’s widely believed that Selby’s verbal commitment to UT did not prevent some rival schools from contacting him. While some consider this a faux pais, Bruce Pearl doesn’t really have a right to complain when you think about his tactics in going after Scotty Hopson after his verbal commitment to Mississippi State.
The Players
Bruce Pearl has said from the Maccabiah Games (he’s coaching the Jewish US team) that he will still recruit Selby, but it’s rare to see a kid decommit from a school and recommit later.
Given the circumstances (Worldwide Wes involvement and mentioning of Nike), there were three schools that immediately jumped to mind for most experts: Kentucky, Memphis, and Oregon. UK and Oregon are both well connected with Wes and Nike and Memphis has a commitment from Selby’s cousins, Will and Antonio Barton. However, Gary Parrish reports that Selby’s connection to the Barton’s may not be as impactful as some think. Louisville is also expected to be involved.
General consensus is that UK is in solid position for Selby, but do not expect a rushed decision.
The Impact
Whenever a recruit like Selby becomes available unexpectedly, it causes a ripple effect in the entire class (see Henry, Xavier). UK already has a bunch of targets at point guard, so UK’s involvement with Selby will likely change their approach with other kids as well.
The most high profile of UK’s 2010 targets is Brandon Knight. Knight is similar to John Wall in that a commitment in his class from a high level player at his position will likely not faze him.
Even so, Knight of late has looked an awful lot more like a 2 guard than a point guard or even a combo guard. Commanding the floor has never been his strength even when asked. UK is thought to be strong with Knight as well and I do not think it is out of the question that Calipari lands both. Neither Knight nor Selby is a true point, but I can see them playing together. Even moreso, I can see either at the 2 with Eric Bledsoe running the point.
UK’s second most highly rated point guard target is Kyrie Irving. When Calipari brought Irving’s godfather, Rod Strickland, to UK, many thought UK would have the inside track, but Irving has been adamant that family connections will not be the deciding factor. IU is very strong with Kyrie, as is Duke, and I would surprised if he ends up at UK, especially considering that he becomes less of a priority if Selby comes on board.
Joe Jackson has not been a high priority for the UK staff and Selby probably will bump him another spot down on the list.
We have yet to hear from Selby himself, only his mother, since his decommitment, so it will be interesting when he does speak.
An early look at UK’s ‘09-’10 rotation
By: Guy | July 5th, 2009 | Category: CatsWhen I found out once and for all that Xavier Henry would stick with his Kansas commitment, I immediately started wondering “How is John Calipari going to structure the rotation for his first team at Kentucky?” I figured that the best predictor of next year’s rotation would be the rotations for Calipari’s last few teams at Memphis.
Consequently, I researched a little bit into how minutes were distributed for John Calipari’s last 4 teams as the head coach of the Tigers. What I found is that Calipari has been very consistent in the depth of his rotation and his starting lineup. I consider a player “in the rotation when he averages over 10 minutes per game and plays in a majority of the team’s games:
2008-2009:
-9 man rotation
-5 players started at least 27 of team’s 37 games
-Same 5 players averaged at least 25 mpg
-1 player averaged more than 30.2 minutes
2007-2008:
-9 man rotation
-5 players started at least 33 of team’s 40 games
-Same 5 players averaged at least 25 mpg
-No player played more than 29.5 mpg
2006-2007:
-8 man rotation
-5 players started at least 35 of team’s 37 games
-7 players played at least 20 mpg
-No player played more than 28 mpg
2005-2006
-9 man rotation
-6 players started at least 21 of team’s 37 games
-Each of those 6 played at least 21.1 mpg
-No player played more than 27.3 mpg
As you can see, Calipari has used a 9 man rotation in 3 of the past 4 seasons and has found a pretty consistent starting lineup by the end of each year. Calipari’s starters generally get the bulk of the minutes and the 3 or 4 players off the bench play around 15 minutes a game. Also, in 2008-2009 Calipari had 2 players play 30 minutes a game (Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier), and that was the only time he had a player play that many minutes in the last 4 seasons.
I believe we can expect basically the same the same during the upcoming season. Let’s take a look at the 9 men who I believe will fit into this rotation. Players in bold are expected starters.
John Wall – G
Eric Bledsoe – G
Darius Miller – G/F
Patrick Patterson – F
DeMarcus Cousins – F/C
Daniel Orton – F/C
Ramon Harris – F
Darnell Dodson – G/F
DeAndre Liggins – G/F
The 3 players that I do not believe will factor into the rotation are Perry Stevenson, Josh Harrellson, and Jon Hood. I think each will get chances early in the year as Calipari learns his team, but I see the rotation shaking out like this.
Some will also argue against Ramon Harris factoring in the rotation, but Calipari has reportedly liked his defense. If you look at Calipari’s last 4 Memphis teams, it has been Antonio Anderson who has led the team in minutes the past 4 years. His defense got him minutes even though he average double figures just once. For this reason, I think you will see Ramon Harris on the court this year.
I also think DeAndre Liggins will be a part of the rotation because of his ability to play point guard in case Bledsoe and Wall are on the bench and the small forward position due to his size. I see him playing 15 minutes or so per game.
I also think that it is likely that 6 players on this years roster will play at least 20 minutes a game (5 starters plus Daniel Orton). You will notice that I include only 3 natural post players in the rotation. Patrick Patterson figures to play 30 minutes a game at either the 4 or 5 (maybe even the 3 from time to time), which leaves 50 minutes at those two positions. I think Orton and Cousins will get the vast majority of those minutes.
Also, people who have not been hearing reports about the pickup games in Lexington may be surprised to see Eric Bledsoe along John Wall in my forecasted backcourt. Bledsoe has been a revelation in these games, giving John Wall everything he wants and more. I think Bledsoe and Wall will be able to play very effectively together, although you have to imagine that a lineup with Wall and Bledsoe will see plenty of zone defense. That will put pressure on Darius Miller or whoever is playing the 3 to hit the outside shot. Even so, can you imagine a bigger upgrade in ballhandling in the backcourt from last season with these 2 playing together? Bring on the ball pressure!
Let’s take a look at how I see the minutes being divvied up at each position when UK plays a close game. Expect the 3 players not listed in the rotation to steal a minute or 2 here or there, but for simplicity’s sake I have excluded them.
PG – Wall (25), Bledsoe (10), Liggins (5)
SG – Bledsoe (13), Miller (10), Wall (5) Dodson (5), Liggins (7)
SF – Miller (15), Dodson (10), Liggins (7), Harris (8)
PF – Patterson (25), Cousins (5), Orton (5), Harris/Miller (5)
C – Cousins (17), Orton (17), Patterson (6)
Comment below if you disagree with any of this!
Matt Pilgrim chooses Oklahoma State
By: Guy | July 5th, 2009 | Category: Cats
Dan Wolken of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reported yesterday evening that Matt Pilgrim has chosen to play for former Kentucky Wildcat Travis Ford at Oklahoma State. John Calipari and Josh Pastner had previously worked together to get Pilgrim on the Memphis roster, but Pilgrim has decided to head west to play in the Big 12. Pilgrim had also visited Maryland.
There was some thought that Pilgrim would be playing for Travis Ford this upcoming season before he left UK. Ford was thought to be a candidate at his former school, particularly if big names like John Calipari and Tom Izzo had spurned the ‘Cats.
Pilgrim still will have to wait to find out whether he will be able to take the court next season, as he applies for a waiver from the NCAA to avoid sitting out a season as transfers typically have to.
A few quick notes for a Monday morning
By: Guy | June 28th, 2009 | Category: CatsI really do love four day work weeks like the one I have heading into the 4th of July this weekend. It’s only Monday, but since I have Friday off, it’s really Tuesday already. I hope you all have big plans this weekend and that this week is as painless as possible.
I’ll try to start your Monday off as well as I can with a quick look at what’s going on in the world of Kentucky basketball:
-We entered this weekend thinking about three players who could potentially fill UK’s 13th and final scholarship: Elliot Williams, Matt Pilgrim, and Xavier Henry. It now looks like we’ll end the weekend with 2 of those 3 now off the board with Pilgrim and Williams reportedly headed to Memphis and a Kansas City writer telling Kansas fans not to worry about Henry playing anywhere else.
Add to that John Calipari’s comments that next years roster will include only 11 or 12 players and I think it’s about time we put dreams of adding another stud to the roster for next year behind us. As Cal said, most of his rosters don’t use the full 13 scholarships.
We also were linked on Sunday by a couple different Memphis sites or message boards, who had a bone to pick with me saying Calipari was doing a good thing by helping Pilgrim find a new landing place. Reader Jon P had this to say:
It doesn’t matter because Elliot Williams is a Tiger and was NEVER going to Kentucky. Pilgrim will be welcomed and valued as a Tiger. And please don’t get it twisted.This is not an attempt for Cal to make things right with Pilgrim. It is purely to save face and get a little positive p.r. out there after all the negative p.r. the school has had since he started dumping kids right and left. That, my friends, is the real rub.
Fellow reader WWW (not sure if World Wide Wes is a reader or not, I’d like to think so) responded by saying this, which I point out because it sums up the way I feel as well:
Regardless of the motivation, Cal is doing a good thing for Pigrim now and hopefully he will be the “beast” that he was said to be in so many pickup games as a Tiger. As for a schollie being available for Williams but not Pilgrim, it was Williams, not Cal that mentioned UK as a possible destination. No one even knows if it was ever a possibility. Cal says he usually does not use his full allotment of rides and he has no plans to use them all this year. He would rather have a talented kid who won’t play on his team happy playing on another roster instead of unhappy not playing on his.
Maybe Calipari is just being nice to look nice, but I doubt it matters much to Matt Pilgrim or Josh Pastner what the reasoning is. Let’s just wish the best for all parties involved and move on.
-Another name that has sort of floated around in the ether as a possible addition to the roster, despite the fact that it’s never been a remote possibility, is Lance Stephenson. However, it now appears Lance has finally found a home and the chances of him being a ‘Cat have dwindled from very, very slim down to none. I, for one, say thank goodness.
Anyway, Lance is headed to the Big East to play for Cincinnati according to ZagsBlog, and it could be official on Tuesday. This will conclude (for now) one of the craziest recruitments in recent basketball recruiting memory. Lance Stephenson has to be the most talented unwanted player of all time.
-The word that’s circulating tonight in the “it was a matter of time” department is that Vinny Zollo (aka the last of the Mohicans, and by Mohicans I mean Billy Gillispie commits) has decided to decommit from UK and reopen his recruitment. Nothing official as of yet, but this will surprise no one when it does become official.
Calipari is going to get players and there’s no room for “projects” or players of questionable talent. Speaking of getting players, I think it’s a matter of time before UK nails down its first 2010 commitment. With Doron Lamb having just visited last week, he would be the logical number one contender.
-Finally, Eric Crawford from the Courier-Journal wrote a good article on Sunday about the suspension Darius Miller is likely to face for unwittingly having his picture advertise for Reggie Warford’s basketball camp. I especially liked this little blurb:
Muhlenberg County coach Reggie Warford included University of Kentucky player Darius Miller’s picture on a flyer and in an advertisement for his basketball camp.
And that, of course, violates NCAA commandment No.1: No one shall profit from the student athletes (except for the NCAA, its member schools, rights-paying broadcast partners and corporate sponsors).
Interesting read on Xavier, CJ Henry
By: Guy | June 28th, 2009 | Category: Cats
There was an article in yesterday’s Kansas City Star by Brady McCullough about Kansas commitments Xavier and CJ Henry. It talks about they recruitment, their decision to play for Memphis, then Kansas, what they think about John Calipari, and their priorities.
The theme of the piece is that next year is all about getting to the NBA for the Henry boys. They look at Kansas as a stepping stone for those goals and whatever school they attend would be treated exactly the same way.
There have been rumors of late that the Henry’s are rethinking their decision to attend Kansas and possibly looking at UK. This was fueled by their decision to remain in Oklahoma City to train rather than attend summer classes at KU. While McCullough does not directly mention the rumors, he does say that Xavier considered playing a year in Europe, even after choosing Kansas. He also speaks directly to Kansas fans concerns about losing the two before they step on campus:
When Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky in April, the Henrys, particularly Xavier and Barbara, felt betrayed. After a three-week period that left the family and the fan bases at KU, Memphis and Kentucky exhausted, the Henrys agreed on Kansas. The boys were interested in UK, but Carl says that Barbara didn’t want to move to Kentucky.
“Everybody was ready to get it over with,” Barbara says. “I said, ‘What’s the worst that can happen? You can go to KU. You love KU.’ ”
Lounging on a white leather sofa in C.J.’s apartment, the Henry boys’ attire hints at quite a story: C.J. wears a Memphis shirt, Xavier a KU practice jersey.
“I’m ready to go up there and get everything started,” Xavier says.
Kansas fans can relax: The Henrys’ allegiance to Calipari and the thoughts of Europe are behind them now. They will show up in August, and they will do the work on the court and in the classroom. Still, the NBA remains in the forefront. If it weren’t for the league’s age limit of 19, Xavier would almost certainly have been picked in the first round of Thursday night’s draft.
