I've been avoiding this story like Rick Pitino should have avoided the sun 20 years ago.
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald Leader broke a story this weekend about Kentucky's Men's basketball team having a collective GPA of 2.025 for the fall semester. Four players were at 2.0 or lower and only two were better than 3.0. Normally, I'd shrug my shoulders, say 'who cares' and move on. It was worse in 2002 and no one cared then either.
However, the Cats fell under a lot of scrutiny with the one-and-done players. With the shots, came Calipari's bragging about freshman John Wall and his A's and B's. Cal had bragged about Patterson graduating in 3 years and other players graduating on time. He addressed the issue, spun it off, and continued to raise the item nearly every time someone questioned the Cats' academic performances.
However, he failed to mention that there was a player with a 1.667 GPA. He failed to mention his team fell below the school average of 2.919 for undergraduate students and 2.818 for all freshmen.
Among teams outside the SEC willing to provide their GPAs for the fall semester, Duke (3.01), Louisville (3.0) and Kansas (2.95) all outperformed Kentucky.
With that, I still don't care. I think the players have the hardest task in the university. That task is to travel, study, give back to the community, and appear at functions all at the same time. Reading books and scouting reports. Practicing 3 times a day and going to 3-4 classes. College is tough but the burden of success on and off the court is nearly impossible. I commend Kansas and Duke for their success on both. Louisville, you can now brag about your 3.0 GPA as something better than Kentucky this year. But these are student-athletes and while others may be recruited for the student part and will be paid for success at it, ultimately these young men are preparing for the athlete part and will be paid for those services.
I think the players have the hardest task in the university. That task is to travel, study, give back to the community, and appear at functions all at the same time.
ReplyDeleteReally? you dont think you can manage taking 3-4 gen ed classes with personal tutors in each of them? I know it must be difficult while having your dick sucked by every farmers daughter in Ky.
Have you ever taken a college course? I am almost positive if you show up to you classes your first semester on campus you get a 3.0 GPA.
Maybe you can lend your free time next season and teach cals thugs how to perfect long division and how to read.
The main problem here (as usual) is the NCAA rulebook. In order to stay eligible, a player has to have a 1.8 GPA. As you mentioned, one UK player had a 1.67 GPA and another had a 1.7. How were they eligible? Because the GPA requirement for eligibility doesn't go into effect until the second year a player is on campus. That was fine in the 1980s, but when you have a stable full of one-and-dones, and you don't require them to post passing grades in the fall AND their spring semester grades have no bearing until the next season, what means of enforcement do you have? Its a complete joke, and its moved beyond even the illusion of amateur athletics.
ReplyDeleteIsnt it amazing that you can perform so miserably in the class room, lie (or just not say the truth) about your team classroom performance and still SPIN it so your not responsible. BE VERY CAREFUL Mildcats fans....NCAA is going to come a CALLIN soon! Not so pretty today huh?
ReplyDelete