Memphis Tigers Basketball

The word on the street is that Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics are very interested in acquiring the services of Tyreke Evans.

And they are willing to trade up well into the top 10 of this year’s draft to get him.

There are too many variables involved for me to even attempt to address all of the possible ways the Celtics could acquire Evans’ draft rights.

I’m not an NBA specialist (there are plenty others who are), so I will just speculate on the one team that I know a little something about:

The Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizz are in a terrible spot (for them) in this year’s draft.

The only player that the team could really use is Blake Griffin, and if anyone wants to argue that he lasts past the first pick, I will personally go on eBay and buy a straitjacket for you.

Because you’re crazy to think Blake isn’t announced first.

No one else in this year’s draft excites me enough to be the No. 2 pick. After all, Michael Jordan was a No. 3 choice; typically, it’s a sure bet if you manage a top 3 or 4 slot.

Not this year.

Ricky Rubio is a long, skinny project. Hasheem Thabeet is a 7’3” project.

At No. 2, the Grizz need someone who can step in and produce right away. That’s why they should trade the pick.

It says here, if Boston is willing to part with Leon Powe and Ray Allen for the Grizzlies’ choice, Chris Wallace should take it and be ecstatic.

So just what is it about Tyreke Evans that makes him valuable enough to be the second name called in this year’s NBA Draft, selected by Boston, by way of Memphis?

Here’s what I learned about Tyreke during his scintillating single season as a Tiger:

He is insanely talented, even though he does not have off-the-charts athleticism.

He is long and active, and likes to mix it up. He will get you some boards.

He will get at least one steal a night where you think, “Where in the hell did he come from?” because he has great anticipation and is willing to gamble and help out. (This sometimes leaves him out of position, but good coaching will break him of that.)

Tyreke is extremely receptive to coaching (Doc Rivers would love him, and it would be a perfect fit for him to end up with Rivers, a former NBA guard) and he works hard. He’s not happy with being good; he wants to be great.

Of course, Memphis ran DDM and Doc actually modeled his offense after Calipari’s to a large degree. My understanding is that the Cal and Doc stayed in pretty close contact as Boston was implementing the offense—and as he has shown, Reke is perfect for it, in many ways.

When he wants to get into the lane, it’s almost impossible to keep him out. He has a quick first step, is stronger than most guards, and is slithery and very clever.

Evans is a totally different player from Derrick Rose (to whom he is often mistakenly compared), because he doesn’t have the same blinding speed, but the result is almost the same, because they both have so many ways to penetrate and finish at the rim.

Now, for the negatives: his jumper is ugly and inconsistent. I would expect that he needs to totally revamp his stroke if he wants to be a complete NBA scorer. That will take years. I personally feel he will be okay in time, due to his work ethic.

Additionally, Evans sometimes gets a bit lazy and relies far too much on his spotty three-point stroke. He was second on the team in three-point attempts (134) yet only third in makes (34), an unacceptable 27.4 percent.

He does need to dominate the ball in order to be effective, which means either making him the point guard (not an option with Rondo around) or at least running a number of plays where he is the primary ballhandler.

How Doc would make that work is anybody’s guess, but I think he can figure it out.

Reke’s penchant to gamble for the steal would drive Rivers nuts because Doc believes in good fundamental, positional defense. Again, that can be worked out. I like his potential as a defender; someday, he will be a lockdown-type if he puts his mind to it.

He is a very complete player, a magnificent scorer, and certainly no more prone to sloppy play than any other kid his age. Wherever Boston selects him, I think he will be a good value, even at the 2.

There are only a select few situations that are ever truly "perfect" for both sides, but from where I'm sitting, Tyreke Evans to the Celtics fits the mold.

Evans could very well be the missing link that pushes the C’s back to the NBA Title.

Tyreke Evans key statistics while at Memphis

37 games played, 35 games started, 1,072 total minutes (29.0 average, third on team)

632 total points (17.1 PPG, first on team) on 230-505 shooting (45.5 percent from floor)

138 free throws made, 194 attempted (both led team), 71.1 percent converted (fourth)*

* Among Tigers with 100 or more attempts

This article is an excerpt from a piece I published on TigerSportsReport.com, the Memphis affiliate of Rivals.

Entitlement is a word that Kentucky fans know very well (OK, maybe some of us don't know the word or how to spell it, but we know what it means).

In light of all the recent message board bashing of Kentucky and Memphis by each school's respective fan base, I would like to present a few stats and my take on the situation.                               

• All-time record:  UK(1988-635-1)     UM(1350-806-1)
• NCAA Titles:  UK(7)     UM(0)
• NCAA Runner-Up:  UK(3)     UM(2)
• Final Fours:  UK(13)     UM(3)
• Elite Eights:  UK(31)     UM(6)
• Sweet 16's:  UK(40)     UM(11)
• NCAA Appearances:  UK(50)     UM(22)
• Conference Tourney Championships:  UK(26)     UM(8)
• Conference Regular Season Championships:  UK(44)     UM(12)

So as you can see, Kentucky has out-performed Memphis in every category. If one were to do the same comparison of Kentucky to any other school, the results would be nearly identical with a few exceptions: Titles, UCLA; Final Fours, UNC.

Big Blue Nation fan(atics) have known this for years and tend to be overly arrogant about it, myself included.

Now, here are some posts that have shown up on message boards of either shchool:

"Kentucky is Kentucky. It is a better program than Memphis. You can't blame a guy for taking off for bluer pastures after nine glorious years." Geoff Calkins, Memphis Commercial Appeal, April 1, 2009.

"They had it before you, they had it during you, they'll have it when you're gone."  Al McGuire on Kentucky basketball tradition.

"I'd just as soon freeze to death." Actress Ashley Judd telling of being offered a UNC jacket on a chilly movie set, Lexington Herald Leader, August 15, 1996.

All UK fans probably have a similar story to tell like Ashley's.

My point being, while Big Blue Nation as a whole loves the John Calipari hire, those of us who are knowledgeable fans, (90+ percent I assume), understand that if it wasn't for Memphis hiring Cal, and the absolutely wonderful job he and his staff did while he was there, we at Kentucky could be facing five more years of mediocrity.

Memphis has been better than Kentucky recently. There, I said it. Better record, better showing in the NCAA's, better recruits, and most definitely a better coach.

Now UK has the coach they need, one who can handle the immensity of leading the BBN. Memphis made a great hire, I truly believe Josh Pastner will continue where Cal left off, as evidenced by his recent signings of five-star players including Latavious Williams and Will Barton.

So let's all stop the internet bashing and nerd fighting, realize that UK fans have and always will feel entitled to win, and win big every year because of the past we have enjoyed.

Let our beloved teams duke (God I hate that word) it out on the hardwood.

Words never won anybody an NCAA title, and fans of each school only have to look as far as Mario Chalmers and Miles Simon to realize how quickly an apparent championship can turn into a runner up.

After all, Wildcats and Tigers are both in the cat family, right? 

On May 27, news broke that Derrick Rose, a standout on the 2008 Memphis Final Four team, may have had his academic grades changed during his senior year in high school.

At the time, many people believed this would be an investigation dedicated solely to the Memphis athletic department. In the two weeks since the information was released, the bulk of the blame has been placed on former coach, and accused cheater, John Calipari.

Calipari has been called everything from a liar to a greasy slimeball since the allegations of alleged cheating was released.

Many people do not realize the effect that these accusations could have on Calipari and the program he now runs.

It was announced today that Will Barton, a high school senior-to-be and top 10 recruit, committed to the University of Memphis, when it was known that Kentucky was the clear leader for his services.

In an interview conducted after his verbal announcement, Barton stated that coaches at Memphis told him that Calipari was the source of the problem, and were he to play at Kentucky, he would be representing a liar and a cheater.

All the negative publicity and criminal accusations have many Kentucky fans wondering if they missed the news when Calipari was found guilty and to blame for this behavior.

The answer is no. Calipari has not been charged in any way, and in fact, the NCAA cleared Calipari before UK hired him, as these accusations were known for months by the two universities.

As it stands, the old saying "innocent until proven guilty" is not being used in this situation.

It seems the college basketball world is doing all it can to rain on the Kentucky parade.

When Kentucky wrapped up perhaps the greatest recruiting class in NCAA history, there were the Duke, Louisville, and Tennessee fans to crown Calipari a cheater and to announce that there is no way Eric Bledsoe or DeMarcus Cousins could qualify—which they both have.

But where does Memphis stand in all this? The program that let Derrick Rose in, the program that looked at Robert Dozier's two SAT scores and cleared him, and the program that is currently under investigation has been using the Calipari card the entire time.

Memphis signed Latavious Williams last week, a player known around the recruiting world as having grade issues himself.

They just took Will and Antonio Barton from Kentucky simply by claiming their own mess was someone else's fault.

In no way does it appear that Memphis' reputation will be questioned, but Calipari and Kentucky, however, will face the persecution of the nation and will be ushered in as the next band of cheaters who are trying to ruin this perfectly run game.

When someone says he hates the coach of a team—someone like Mike Krzyzewski at Duke—it really means they fear and respect him.

When I say I hate John Calipari, I really mean I hate him.

Calipari is quite possibly the slimiest, shadiest character in the slimiest and shadiest of all collegiate sports—men's basketball.

Recent allegations about NBA Rookie of the year Derrick Rose's SAT scores and improper benefits to Rose's brother are just the tip of the iceberg. 

Now, new allegations of impropriety have come forth regarding the SAT scores of another player on the 2007-2008 Memphis team, Robert Dozier. 

It is now being reported that he was denied admission at the University of Georgia based on inconsistencies in his SAT scores. Dozier's initial SAT score was invalidated by the company that grades them (something that in and of itself is very rare) after he scored 540 points lower the second time he took the test. 

Dozier initially committed to Memphis in high school, then changed his pledge to Georgia, where admissions officials were immediately concerned with his SAT scores. 

In a letter to university president Michael Adams, the faculty admissions review board issued a "strong deny" in this case.

"Of greatest concern is the gross inconsistency in his testing record," the committee wrote in its report. "His [SAT verbal score of 590] would place him in the 76th percentile nationally, while his [SAT math score of 670] places him in the 89th percentile. This raises a serious red flag, since his PSAT from October 2000 places him in the fourth percentile nationally in both areas."

"Such a remarkable improvement in testing abilities in the span of nine months is highly improbable, particularly for a student with a C-minus record in average college prep courses in high school."

That doesn't sound good at all.

The NCAA will meet with Memphis officials Saturday regarding the Derrick Rose case, while the Dozier matter will not be included in those particular hearings.

Some might be shocked at all of these allegations swirling around the Memphis program, but they shouldn't be. If the NCAA chooses to vacate Memphis' 2008-record 38 wins and National Championship game appearance, it will be the second Calipari-led program to be punished in that fashion.

In 1996, the NCAA vacated Calipari's Final Four appearance at UMass (the school's first) after it was revealed that Naismith Player of the Year Marcus Camby was found to have received roughly $28,000 from sports agents. Calipari was of course cleared of any wrongdoing. 

The latest rash of allegations at Memphis are far from shocking. Calipari isn't just one of the best recruiters in college hoops because he's a nice guy. It's because he's willing to play the games respectable coaches aren't.

Case in point: Recent high-profile commitment John Wall will play at Kentucky where he will battle for playing time with the other handful of high-major prospects Calipari brought in.

The smart choice for Wall would seem to be attending North Carolina, where there was a scholarship open along with an open slot at point guard, with Ty Lawson going to the NBA.

It makes sense to go to the best program in the country where your position is available, right? Well, John Wall has a handler who said, "I would absolutely not support Wall going to North Carolina."

Why? 

Because Roy Williams has a reputation of not dealing with people like him, and the handler knew he'd get cut out of the deal.

Clearly, I've been railing against John Calipari, but what I'm really angry about is the state of college basketball recruiting.

Are there programs that do things the right way out there? Certainly.

But when, as a head coach, you know there are guys doing this (and trust me, they know), you've got to ask yourself, why even bother doing things the right way?

The NCAA needs to get it together and crack down on the handlers, the AAU garbage, and start letting these young punks who are only in it for the money start going pro straight out of high school again.

Of course, they'll need the NBA's help on that. But this forced amateurism will only continue to lead to dirty programs and even dirtier coaches.

The words of the headline may offend you. Hell, I'm offended by the headline as well. Who do I think I am to add such appalling words at the top of that page?

Well, I think I'm an aspiring sports writer trying to figure out what's going on here. At the same time, I'm also a basketball fan who is afraid that basketball is losing its luster.

But most of all, I'm a basketball fan who may have contributed to the scandal we have before ourselves.

Recently, it has come to our attention that a basketball player who played for the University of Memphis Tigers team in the 2007-2008 season cheated to get on the team. Instead of walking in and trying to take the test himself, a stand-in earned a 740 or 750 SAT score. That was good enough to allow the unnamed player entry into the school.

Add a changed grade in his high school record, and he's officially a cheat. He's officially a player who can admit he didn't always do that well in school.

He's probably Derrick Rose, but as of late, we're yet to confirm if he's the one in question. Rose has denied the allegations.

The University of Memphis has also denied the allegations that anyone cheated to gain entry into the school. Right now, there's apparently no record of fraud, according to school officials. If the allegations are true, though, then there will be no record of their historic 38-2 season.

The NBA has gone under some fire because of the NCAA scandal. Many attribute this resort to cheating a result of the new eligibility rules the league implemented three years ago.

The rules stated that any individual who wanted to be drafted had to wait a year before they could enter the draft. They also were required to be 19 years of age. This only applied to American basketball players, but the league seemed to have forgotten that's what the majority is made up of: American basketball players.

Fingers are being pointed to many parties.

Fingers are being pointed to the NBA for having players feel cheated out of going to the NBA whenever they desired. Fingers are being pointed to the University of Memphis for being so irresponsible, assuming they knowingly allowed a cheater to play for them, per the allegations. Fingers are being pointed to the player in question for taking the easy way out in order to be eligible for college basketball.

In the end, the answer should be clear. Apparently, we're not making the bold statement, because we hate to admit it.

All of us are to blame, my friends. Every single one of us.

The player in question—whether it would be Derrick Rose or whoever—is to blame for his irresponsibility.

Although his anger is understandable, his actions can't be. He shouldn't have resorted to employing a friend to do his test for him.

If he really wanted to play basketball at the University of Memphis, then he'd take a study guide, hire a tutor, and prepare for the SAT. He didn't have to cheat. He could have taken the test, and he probably would have passed with the score required if he studied hard.

He's to blame.

The University of Memphis is to blame if they knew they allowed a cheater on campus.

They should have denied him entry and shown him the error of his ways by keeping him off the court. Now, your program could be tarnished because of one cheating scandal that could have been avoided by condemning it. And now, your NCAA-record 38 wins will be wiped off the record. NCAA basketball books will have an asterisk next to your 2007-2008 record.

You're to blame for your own irresponsibility.

The NBA is to blame for limiting the choices of players.

Although their intentions may have been good, their actions were not. Like the player, your actions did not help your thoughts.

Instead, they damaged their relevance.

Why would you keep players out of the NBA Draft? I understand that you want to make sure players have futures, but I don't think all of the failed high school players end up being hobos on the streets.

Will there be more failed high school draft picks than successful ones? Definitely.

Still, the same can be said for all draft picks. One out of every 3,800 high school basketball players will make it to the NBA. That includes those who enter the draft after their freshmen, sophomore, or junior years of college. That also includes men like Tyler Hansbrough, who stay all four years in college.

The rarity is inevitable. There will always be a LeBron, Kobe, Garnett, or Dwight Howard among 10 to 15 high school busts. That's just the way the sports world goes.

There will always be a Sam Bowie to every Michael Jordan. Hell, there will be 20 Sam Bowies to every Michael Jordan.

You cannot prevent failure. You can only encourage success. And you, Mr. Stern, have done nothing but further the failure.

Your further failure is not the NBA, but in college basketball. You damaged the importance of NCAA basketball by trying to force it down the throats of NCAA players.

I'm sure plenty of NBA stars today could have skipped college to go to the NBA. Many of them went to college, though, and stayed for a considerable amount of time.

They were given free reign in their options, and saw the benefit of going to college. Their freedom to choose gave them freedom to appreciate a free education at a university in exchange for playing basketball. If they chose to go the NBA, then they felt they were ready. The previous system worked because it gave lenience to the players. They were able to choose.

Your current system only gives players the feeling that college basketball is a prison. They want to go to the NBA, but because of your ridiculous rules, they can't go.

The ones who are ready for the NBA go to college for a year, as required, then get drafted. The ones who aren't drafted are still cynical when they see the success of players like Durant, Rose, Beasley, and Mayo, and go to the NBA to follow suit.

So congratulations, Mr. Stern—you're to blame for limiting players' options.

We are to blame as well. We're to blame for not objecting to the one-and-done deal. We're to blame for encouraging "NBA, NBA" every single time, and then provoking the NBA to flip us off as a a response.

We are to blame for never believing the NBA is full of integrity. We should criticize them, but the league will not budge. It will continue to do as it desires, and we will get nothing.

We're to blame for wanting so much, and getting nothing in return. We're to blame for demanding.

When you look for someone to blame, don't look at one party. Look at the cheating player who refuses to show some integrity. Look at the school that allowed someone of the sort on their campus. Look at the league that tries to control the landscape of professional basketball. Look into a mirror and see the demanding hoops fan.

Look at everyone. We're all to blame.

The movie Blue Chips was released back in 1994. As a young 12 year-old Orlando Magic fan basking in the glow of the Shaq and Penny days, it was only natural that I became a huge admirer of the film.

Featuring the pair of Orlando superstars as two-thirds of the blue-chip prospects recruited by fictional coach Pete Bell (Nick Nolte), the movie unraveled the story of a once prominent collegiate program, the fictional Western University, that had since fallen on hard times, struggling to compete in a league it had thrived in for years.

While Bell had traditionally stood by his morals of honest and fair recruiting, he slowly started to realize that he was one of the last good guys swimming in a league that had matured into a sea of scandal and vice.

Going against his ethics, he cheats, paying the risky but advantageous tab to bring in the nation’s top recruiting class in an effort to get his program back on track and appease the appetites of raging fans and the school’s bigwigs.

While the movie undoubtedly focuses the light on the NCAA’s biggest problem, fans of the film tend to focus on the thrill ride of turning a losing basketball program around with a couple of tantalizing recruits in just one summer.

 Minus the scandal (more on that later), the University of Kentucky is undergoing their own Blue Chip-like scenario this offseason.

Kentucky is coming off an embarrassing year for a school rich in tradition. After losing eight of their last 11 to close the season, the Wildcats failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, capping off their dismal campaign with a loss to Notre Dame in the NIT.

The team fired second-year coach Billy Gillespie, and what followed next was a scene best suited for TMZ, with Gillispie fleeing from reporters as he awkwardly bobbed and weaved down school halls to avoid interrogation from the press.

Topped off with counter lawsuits between the coach and school and you have what might be considered the worst year in school history from a PR perspective.

Enter John Calipari, the smooth-talking, slick-haired player’s coach from Memphis University who not only solidified Kentucky’s coaching vacancy, but brought in a recruiting class that on paper stacks up with some of the more famous hauls in NCAA history.

For a team that ended the year on a sour note, Kentucky's not only poised for a return to prominence, but has a realistic shot at cutting down the nets next April.

Say what you want about Calipari; arrogant, obnoxious, underhanded, whatever, one thing the guy does consistently is reel in top-shelf talent and raise expectations wherever he coaches.

While Pete Bell brought in the ultimate center and point guard combo to spark his school’s turnaround, Calipari is following along the same lines with his inking of the highest-ranked prospects at the two positions.

Enter DeMarcus Cousins, the athletic and agile 6'9" power player who can dominate on the low block and draw defenders away from the basket with his perimeter game.

Cousins has NBA written all over him. He moves like a cat inside the three-point line and finishes like a bear around the rim.

His inside repertoire and long range game are reminiscent of Rasheed Wallace sans the penchant for technical fouls.

Depending on whom you’re talking to, Cousins might be the top player in the country and should immediately walk into a starting frontcourt position next season at Kentucky.

Calipari’s dribble-drive motion offense should fit Cousins’ game perfectly and getting out on the break would highlight the big man’s ability to run.

Now, if only he had a point guard to find him.

Enter John Wall, the ultra-athletic combo guard who gets in and out the lane quicker than a Ferrari.

At 6'4", Wall’s height and vision allow him to see the floor better than smaller guards. He can drive with either hand and his ability to finish inside opens creases in the defense where he consistently finds his teammates.

Ask three different people and you may get two nominations for Wall as the best player in the country. The fact that both Wall and Cousins will be in Kentucky next year means that you can’t go wrong with saying the Wildcats got the best high school player in the nation.

A big man who can shoot the three and a guard who can’t be stopped should be enough to allow any offense to flourish. But it wasn’t enough for Coach Cal.

In addition to arguably the top two prospects in the country, Calipari wasn’t done.

With Wall and Cousins possible one-and-done candidates similar to their movie counterparts, Calipari needed some stability, another foundation he could build on for the next two or three years.

Enter his second point guard-center combination in Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton.

The 6'1" Bledsoe and the 6'10" Orton are more traditional college recruits: solid players who will need a few years seasoning before they’re ready to shake David Stern’s hand in New York City.

Both Orton and Bledsoe are true to their positions, offering solid fundamentals and explosive play-making ability.

The duo's talent is unquestioned, but unlike their more popular classmates, they don’t have the physical traits or the name recognition that would suggest Freshman of the Year honors.

To add the cherry on the top, Calipari thought it would be nice to sprinkle in a couple of slashers. Guys who can swing between the 2 and 3 spots in a pinch and capitalize off the slots in the defense that the aforementioned recruits will likely create.

Enter 6'7" junior college transfer Darnell Dodson and local 6'6" talent Jon Hood.

Both Hood and Dodson have similar games. They’re both nice shooters who can also finish strong at the rim when given the space.

Agile and athletic, the two run the floor well and are the type of players that will eat you alive should a defense focus too heavily on others around them.

Even in Blue Chips, Pete Bell had a high-scoring holdover from the previous season. You know, the player exclusively known as “Tony” who could play with anybody but just needed “some help on the boards” as Bell’s ex-wife so eloquently suggested.

Enter Patrick Patterson, the returning junior who posted close to 18 points a game last season who will indubitably raise his NBA stock playing alongside this talented class.

Patterson had a breakout season last year, showcasing a low-post game that made him a terror in the SEC. With so much talent coming in, expect his numbers to drop but a season in the limelight should make him a household name.

In the original film, Bell and his Western squad got a chance to see where they measured up when they opened their hype-filled season at home against the No. 1 team in the nation, Indiana, led by legendary coach Bobby Knight.

Although the official polls and calendar haven’t been released yet, Calipari and his Kentucky troops will be scheduled to play the No.1 team from last year when they host UNC and their legendary coach Roy Williams at Rupp Arena.  

Seems like all the stars are in place.

Big time school: Check!

Program in shambles: Check!

Pressure from outside sources to turn it around: Check!

Knock out recruiting class: Check!

Talented forward returning: Check!

Chance to open the season against a top ranked program: Double Check!

OK, so all the actors and scenarios are in place to start filming Blue Chips II.

 

We should hurry this along because who knows where things will end up with the recent revelations of alleged academic fraud by Derrick Rose, Calipari’s last top-tier recruit.

Accusations of a fraudulent SAT score and expenses paid for a relative of Rose during the 2007-2008 season at Memphis is sure to leave a black eye on somebody.

The NCAA has issued a letter to Calipari indicating he has not been implicated at the moment; however, continued probing into this case may lead to some larger problems.

In the original Blue Chips, Coach Bell resigned after opening night when the bevy of questions and weight of scandal was a little too heavy for his conscience.

While no one is hoping for a repeat scenario, it sure would make for a great sequel wouldn’t it?

The 2008 Memphis Tigers were only 2.1 seconds away from claiming the NCAA Basketball title. That was long enough for Mario Chalmers of Kansas to hit an unforgettable three-pointer and take the National Championship game into overtime. It's time thank him for his heroics.

The NCAA has a surprise for Memphis basketball fans.

New allegations have arisen regarding a Memphis player having a fraudulent SAT score. The player in question was said to be the unquestioned leader, and No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, Derrick Rose.

John Calipari, now the coach at Kentucky has some questions to answer.

How can such a star player's score become invalid a year later? It seems to me that Calipari had to have known something. He knew this player could lead his team, but his academics were weak. Calipari, as usual, didn't see Rose as a risk. Rather, he seen him as an investment—one that almost brought Memphis a championship. 

Rose's test scores were probably questioned beginning in his first class at Memphis.  There is no doubt that when Simeon High School in Chicago saw one of their alumni playing, they went looking at Rose's scores. I can't imagine that a superstar like Rose could easily get by with simply writing his SAT score down on an application. 

The Memphis University school system should be answering questions, not asking them. 

The university has been adamant that the email noting the fraudulent scores was received in May. I find that highly suspect, but almost impossible to prove. The University needs to open up to what is actually going on. 

Many media outlets are asking for information regarding their "investigation" into the NCAA allegations. Memphis is not helping any newspapers with any information so requests are now starting with the courts.

The person who needs to be spoken to immediately is Derrick Rose. If Rose is truly the student who pulled this stunt, he needs to step up and take responsibility. 

College students who commit violations do not normally have to answer for their actions. We all remember the Florida State football team and the numerous players suspended for their Music City Bowl game.

Rose is no longer an amateur athlete. He is a professional and he needs to speak up regarding anything 'funny' going around at Memphis. As a person who follows college basketball throughout Tennessee, don't expect Memphis to say anything. 

They have been continually trying to better their school's perception based upon athletics. The teams and fans are continually looking to their "move" to the Big East.  Once there, they'll get the respect "they deserve."

The last person who needs to be talking is NBA Commissioner David Stern. The reason we have players such as Rose, DeMar DeRozan, and Tyreke Evans is because of Stern.

Stern's rules forbid any player to enter the NBA until their graduating class was one year removed from High School. Because of this, players such as Brandon Jennings are having to go to Europe to become professionals. The NBA thought it was helping their league and the NCAA.

It wasn't.

Players who play one season of NCAA basketball just to turn pro have ruined college basketball.

Expect more stories like this to come if the NBA doesn't figure this out. If guys want to be pro players, let them. Its not the like the NBA isn't milking former high school stars LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard already.

We previously featured an article on Coach John Calipari during his tenure at Memphis. This piece hinted at shady business on Calipari’s behalf, which stirred up quite a bit of controversy with Memphis Tigers fans. It turns out Coach Cal and the Memphis program were up to no good.

It was revealed last week that a Memphis player cheated on his SAT in order to be eligible to play ball. That player in particular was phenom point guard and former number-one overall pick in the NBA Draft, Derrick Rose.

This news comes to new surprise, seeing as it’s no secret that Rose isn’t exactly the crunchiest chip in the bag…have you heard him talk? I can’t believe it took this long for the allegations to be released to the public!

In addition to committing an academic sin (cheating on the SAT), the Memphis program reportedly spent over $2,200 in trips, hotel rooms, and things of that sort for the stud prospect.

Calipari throws out the rulebook and will do whatever it takes to make sure his team has the premier recruits in the nation. It seems like everyone has forgotten about the whole Marcus Camby ordeal at UMass!

In case you aren’t familiar, let me remind you: Calipari took UMass to the Final Four in 1996, which was eventually vacated by the NCAA when it was revealed that their big man, Marcus Camby, had received money from agents.

In addition to money, Camby also obtained jewelry, clothes and prostitutes. Calipari’s recruiting methods are almost as if he ripped a page out of the movie "He Got Game." [Read more...]

Wherever John Calipari goes, the wins come for the ride.

There is no question that Calipari, who tallied a record of 252-69 while coaching the Memphis Tigers, can attract talent wherever he is coaching; exactly why the University of Kentucky decided to throw $31.65 million at his feet.

The talent level for Calipari's teams? High. Very High. Calipari has coached numerous All-Americans.

The character level? Well, just look at Marcus Camby. The former UMass star was paid $28,000 and given numerous luxuries—including the service of prostitutes—by agents.

So that 1996 Final Four appearance by Calipari's Minutemen? Never happened.

You can also view Calipari's graduation rates at Memphis. Better than the 0 percent rate Memphis had before Calipari started coaching at FedEx Forum, but still not good.

Now look at Derek Rose, Calipari's stud freshman that guided the Memphis Tigers to the 2008 NCAA Championship game. With the recent allegations that a player on Memphis' 2007-2008 roster—identified by sources as Rose—had someone else take the SAT for them, more and more is being revealed about the kind of players Calipari is bringing into his program.

It's looking like the NCAA could wipe out Memphis' '07-'08 campaign.

Poof. No Final Four appearances for Calipari.

Regardless of speculation, both UMass and Memphis were successful under the guidance of Calipari. During his reign from '88-'96, UMass won the Atlantic-10 Conference four times.

This all culminated in 1996 when UMass went most of the season undefeated. Their run ended in the National Semifinals.

Calipari left for a juicy contract in the NBA before Camby's situation arose.

Calipari did not feel the burn from Camby-gate, but UMass did. They lost their benefits from the successful season and have never recovered. They made the NCAA Tournament two years after Cali's departure, but have been relegated to a middle-of-the-pack A-10 team ever since.

The Mullens Center, the arena Calipari pushed to be built on the Amherst, Mass. campus, remains relatively empty during Minutemen game. What once was a basketball-crazy campus now averages a little more than 5,000 fans at home basketball games.

May Memphis follow UMass' footsteps into mid-major mediocrity?

Before Calipari moved to Graceland in 2000, the Tigers' basketball program was in better shape than UMass'. They had been to 11 NCAA Tournaments in the '80s and '90s but were not consistent enough to be considered a power.

The smooth coach changed that with the talent he started to bring in. With players like Darius Washington Jr., Memphis began to make a turnaround. They made the tournament in '03 and except for an off-year in '05 have made it ever since.

Still, college basketball critics speculated concerning Cali's recruiting. They did not fully believe the successful coach, or players, were playing by the book.

The accusations of Rose prove them to be true, and now it looks as if Memphis could suffer. The university was notified by the NCAA in January about their investigation on Rose. Did this provide more motivation for Calipari to skip town?

Regardless, the move took the wind away from Memphis' sails. It has hurt their fan base and recruiting. John Wall, a top recruit who was deciding between Memphis and Kentucky, among others, joined Calipari en route to Lexington.

The situations between Memphis and UMass are eerily similar. "Sleek and successful coach moves on to bigger and better pastures while the old school suffers from the coach's questionable ways."

One benefit from this: Memphis can start over and build a respectable, powerful program.

The right way.

"The devil's greatest feat has been convincing man he does not exist."

-C.S Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Memphis is the spiritual home of the blues, the place where rural blues musicians from the deep south would go to seek their fortune and fame in the wiles of the big city.

One of the most legendary tales is of a young blues musician who went down to the crossroads and sold his soul to the devil in exchange for fame and fortune.

The story is a myth, Americana legend, that Robert Johnson got down on his knees in Rosedale, Mississippi and that the devil claimed his soul at age 27.

The blues that run through Memphis are full of stories about crossroads and "hell hounds on my trail" even in as cosmically weird place as Memphis the deal never works out the way it's seemingly more innocent party expected.

If college basketball had a crossroads, it must have been somewhere near Memphis as well, near the University of Memphis.

This devil is just as adept at making deals he promises. For a time, he delivers on his end of the bargain, but in the end only leaves behind a wake of destruction and mayhem as he moves on to his next soul to claim.

He convinces his victims that it's all about you, the kids, the school, but never himself. He boosts your ego with wins and tales of his loyalty for you.

You'll call him a miracle worker, a messiah, a savior, even a god.

John Calipari is none of the above.

"Vanity, definitely my favorite sin."

-John Milton (Satan), The Devils Advocate

As in the 1997 Pacino flick, the Devil is one smooth operator, a man who understands human lusts, needs, and urges and is more than willing to exploit them for his (not your) gain.

Maybe as a fan, player, or administrator, you've heard about his reputation. Still, you make the deal since what he offers is better than what currently have. You sacrifice your integrity and character for the T.V exposure, the top-flight recruiting classes, the high seeds in the tournament, and the money.

After all, not only has the devil always delivered but nothing bad can be tied to him directly. Forget connecting the dots, because there's no Book of Revelation or Rolling Stones song to do it for you in this case.

Sure, there are stories about his Chief Minion, a man who lives in a Chicago penthouse suite, wears $5,000 suits, and has Lebron James and Bill Clinton on speed dial.

However, you overlook him as well because he is part of the package and just as evil.

You begin to notice the attention that is part of the deal, the fact that your program is nothing more than a hedonistic weigh station.

A virtual D-league for future NBA stars where attending class is optional after Christmas. A place where starting brawls at strip clubs and domestic violence is ignored. A place where the police beat is more relevant than the injury report.

However, you overlook it because it's part of the package.

There are the stories that the devil might be playing hard and fast with the rules of the game. He is amoral when it comes to his players receiving over $25,000 of custom clothes, fur coats, and jewelry.

However, you overlook it because it's a part of package.

He even brings in recruits with little basic command of the English language, yet they are blue chippers. After all, one program's thug is another's "smart but slow-talking southern boy."

Of course, you overlook it because it's part of the package.

Of course, the ones that are jealous point out no matter where he's been, the NCAA has been quick to follow.

Yet, things will be different THIS TIME. Plus, it's part of the package.

The package is what led you to the college basketball crossroads in the first place; it's what made you sign away your programs soul.

When R.C Johnson went down to the crossroads to revive a program that has always overvalued itself, he accepted the package.

He believed the devil when he spoke of loyalty and integrity. He overlooked the bad and took pride in the good. Hell, the poor sap was probably delusional enough to believe he had some hand in the devils success in Memphis.

The devil claimed he would never forsake thee. He claimed he would always be true, then bolted town just ahead of the NCAA hell hounds on his trail.

But have no fear, he wasn't going to steal any of Memphis' recruits—besides DeMarcus Cousins heading to Kentucky.

Now we learn the devil has once again left a path of destruction in his wake, just like he did in Amhurst. All of a sudden, last decade's Marcus Camby is this decade's Derrick Rose.

However, that's the price you pay when you accept the package the devil has to offer.

When Mitch Barnhart went to the crossroads to save his job and cover for his last disastrous hire, he accepted the package as well.

Yet he and every Kentucky fan on the internet will be more than willing to overlook the negative aspects of the package the devil sold them.

Until Mr. Johnson can testify, it's too late.