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Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:02 pm EDT

Much ado about nothing: Wall likely to be cleared by Nov. 13

By Eamonn Brennan

Basketball Prospectus' John Gasaway couldn't have described the reaction to the Wall story any better yesterday:

Assuming no new facts come to light, the story was an excellent example of the “WHAT?!…Oh, is that all?” reaction that news professionals now refer to as the balloon boy sequence: shock and fright followed by a shrug.

Most of us were shrugging within fifteen minutes of reading the whole story yesterday, but there are probably some -- I'm betting they're Indiana and Louisville and Memphis fans, most of them -- who are hoping the John Wall thing turns into a crippling mess for Kentucky basketball. A day later, that seems less and less likely. From Jeff Goodman:

Sources close to the situation have told FOXSports.com that Wall will likely be cleared prior to Kentucky’s season-opener – which is on Nov. 13 against Morehead State at Rupp Arena.

Ahh. You feel that? It's shoulder-shrugging time. Work the kinks out. Really get in there. Make this the best part of your day. Because here's the thing: Even if Wall isn't cleared, the three or four games he'd likely miss as punishment would be all of Kentucky's early-season cupcakes. Every team has them. And when you're as talented as UK, you can lose your best player for four games early in the year and still not even break a sweat. This little AAU oversight, whether sinister or not, isn't going to matter much in the 2009-10 college basketball season. Kentucky fans can take deep breaths; those eager for Calipari to fall from his occasionally skeevy pedestal will have to practice a little more patience.

And that's the consensus among the pundits (I love using the word "pundits" for "writers and bloggers"; it adds a bit of Anglo flair to the proceedings, doesn't it?) today as well. Had Calipari stayed at Memphis, Wall might never have seen the floor. But since Wall is at Kentucky and Calipari is scot-free, the punishment won't be all that strict, nor will Calipari's name get dragged through the mud. Or, if it does, it shouldn't. At least not this time.

Related: SEC Basketball, Recruiting

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23 Comments

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  1. aaronmenser
    1. Posted by aaronmenser Fri Oct 23, 2009 2:56 pm EDT

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    Thanks for this scoop Eamonn. Most websites aren't offering any insight whatsoever. What a group of freshmen!!! This is UK's most talented (not sure if its their best) team since 1997.
  2. Rhyne
    2. Posted by Rhyne Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:27 pm EDT

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    yea i figured he would get cleared....hes a good kid...met him oncec....just wish he would have signed with my tar heels....now we get to beat him "maybe." Should be a good one.
  3. B1funny1
    3. Posted by B1funny1 Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:36 pm EDT

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    I think my Cats are the new Blue Devils. Everyone is just sitting and waiting for it to crash down. Oh well. Good luck with that haters. Cals not stupid. He doesnt have to do anything to get the top kids to come to Kentucky. It's Kentucky. No drive byes, no crack houses, no 666 Mafia. Deal with it.
  4. Cheers 4 Beers
    4. Posted by Cheers 4 Beers Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:27 pm EDT

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    Its Kentucky alright.Meth labs and brother and sister porn.You deal with it yourself loser.
  5. Karl Marx
    5. Posted by Karl Marx Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:54 am EDT

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    Aaron,
    Kentucky LOST the title game in 97, maybe the 96, or 98 team? The title of the blog is "Much ado about nothing", until this freshman class Wins some games, SEC titles, and tournament games all the hype and attention is
    Much ado about Nothing!
  6. Shawn S
    6. Posted by Shawn S Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:18 am EDT

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    The insightful fans knew that much of this was some blown up Pat Forde issue, yet again, as that guy is a Pitino disciple and will do anything possible to smear UK at all turns. Frankly, I wish he'd just come right out and admit his hatred for all things UK, as the guy is a scum bag, more so with trying to make this non-issue an isue at all.
  7. KR
    7. Posted by KR Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:08 pm EDT

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    I love all the haters, that means UK is finally relevant again! Keep on hating, I love it.
    Go 'Cats!
  8. Lowell
    8. Posted by Lowell Sat Oct 24, 2009 1:51 pm EDT

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    If AAU ball is for kids trying to get scholarships, how does a certified agent get to be coach in the first place? Is there any oversite what so ever?
  9. Arey
    9. Posted by Arey Sat Oct 24, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    Wall will be cleared of pat fordes ridiculous accusations and yes kentucky is the no. 1 team again maybe not by the ap or espn polls but face it they are no.1. the only reason they arent right now is because they are young and the pollsters just hate to admit it lol. we will let kansas and bill self enjoy it for a short period c-a-t-s cats,cats,cats go big blue go big blue
  10. B1funny1
    10. Posted by B1funny1 Sat Oct 24, 2009 6:11 pm EDT

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    Right Bobby B. Because there certainly arent any inbreds or meth labs in the great cultural mecca that is Tennessee. Its all paintings and books down there.
    I really dont get where all the UK hate comes from. I dont like Duke, UNC, or Kansas. But I dont spend my time getting all worked up about them. They are still 3 of the best programs in b ball. Good for them and anyone else that does well. I wonder, if and when we win a title, and it doesnt get taken away, Cal gets in good kids that stick around more than a year, and we are constantly in the top 5, will all of the haters get back on here and say "our bad. we were wrong? of course not. because it takes a big bad man to anonimously bad talk things. Only insecure people hate something that doesnt directly involve them. "Oh no, another team is good, I better talk bad about them" Grow up people.
  11. Karl Marx
    11. Posted by Karl Marx Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:06 pm EDT

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    News Flash!!!!
    Wall: STILL NOT CLEARED, Still hasn't played a game. Relax and wait, maybe great maybe not. Time will tell, and Yahoo Blogger's don't know. I can name a dozen McDonald's AA recruits who did NOTHING in college.
    See You in March!
  12. 4rizzle
    12. Posted by 4rizzle Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:56 pm EDT

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    I wish I could crush every ignorant fu*k who uses the term hater. So to put it in your 80ish IQ terms, I am a hater of rednecks using the term hater.
  13. John C
    13. Posted by John C Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:06 am EDT

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    Brian clifton is a skum bag and should be kept away from kids has always been my point!
  14. David B
    14. Posted by David B Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:20 am EDT

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    it shouldn't this time??? what time are you talking about?? oh, the time when he was found innocent at both UMass and Memphis because the acts in question were done without his knowledge by one of his players in a situation out of his immediate control...that one...pundits??? how 'bout dumbsh*ts (especially Pat Forde)... Eammon, at least you are getting better at being somewhat unbiased (which will only assist you down the road)...
  15. DrEw JacKs0N
    15. Posted by DrEw JacKs0N Sun Oct 25, 2009 9:37 am EDT

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    Go John walL!!!!!!!!
  16. DrEw JacKs0N
    16. Posted by DrEw JacKs0N Sun Oct 25, 2009 9:37 am EDT

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    Go John walL!!!!!!!!
  17. Nancy
    17. Posted by Nancy Sun Oct 25, 2009 8:59 pm EDT

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    On a problem always a problem... UMass, Memphis and now Kentucky... it will end up being a big mess...Go Tarheels and keep doing it the right way....
  18. aaronmenser
    18. Posted by aaronmenser Mon Oct 26, 2009 10:42 am EDT

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    Marx,
    Please re-read my post. I stated "most talented" UK team, which doesn't necessarily mean a team that won the NCAA Championship. Anyone that has a real understanding of UK basketball knows that the 1996 and 1997 Pitino teams had more talent than the 1998 team, even though the 1996 and 98 teams won the championships. The 97 team lost a heartbreaker in the final to a loaded Arizona team in overtime, while sitting Derek Anderson (who spent a decade in the NBA) to avoid risking an injury to his knee and preserving his pro career. While the 97 team featured a loaded line up of Ron Mercer, Derek Anderson, Jamal Magloire, Nazr Mohammed, Scott Padgett and Wayne Turner, the 98 team was without Mercer and Anderson leaving a lack of talent in our backcourt. At any rate, the 2009-2010 Cats look every bit as loaded as the mid-late 90's teams and I don't know if we've ever had PGs like Wall or Bledsoe.
  19. Karl Marx
    19. Posted by Karl Marx Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:23 pm EDT

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    Aaron,
    Cudo's on your 97 comment. Wall still hasn't done anything for UK, let's grade his college career when it's over.
  20. Scott
    20. Posted by Scott Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:23 pm EDT

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    I'm sure it's nothing just like the Rose SAT debacle. I also sure it's nothing like Calicheesy's other Final 4 forfeits.
    Kentucky fans, you had a good program and have sold your souls. Welcome to the era of Calicheesy, controversy, and scandals.
  21. silverado71
    21. Posted by silverado71 Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:20 pm EDT

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    My god, what a bunch whiners. Kentucky has got a great coach and some really good recruits and the whiners come out of the woodwork. Get over it. Sounds like a lot of people are scared of Ky, not scared for us.
  22. CB
    22. Posted by CB Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:00 am EDT

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    i just want to know whats the deal with those snugged jerseys... . they look like under armour
  23. Cheers 4 Beers
    23. Posted by Cheers 4 Beers Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:29 am EST

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    me? insecure? Never been called that.Ill check into it.UK still bites

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