UK Grade Issues?

[BearcatAlum1]

Looks like all is not well in "Big Blue Nation."

The same Kentucky team that won the Southeastern Conference regular-season and post-season tournament championships had a cumulative grade-point average of 2.025 for the fall semester, according to records obtained by the Herald-Leader through an open records request. That was the worst of nine SEC schools that gave their men's basketball GPAs to the newspaper.

The UK players' individual GPAs in the fall semester ranged from 3.59 to 1.667. Four were at 2.0 or lower. Two were better than 3.0. (UK released only the individual averages, not the names of players who made the grades.)

Bell noted that UK players must have had at least a 1.8 grade-point average in the fall semester to be eligible in the spring, according to NCAA rules. Yet two UK players had GPAs below that standard: 1.667 and 1.765.

The minimum GPA requirement of 1.8 does not take effect until the start of an athlete's second year, so the 1.667 and 1.765 averages apparently belonged to players in their first years.

Full Article: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/05/02/1248238/uk-basketball-low-on-the-gpa-scale.html#ixzz0msxXXDYV


It's the offseason and I thought this might drum up some discussion. I'm not going to speculate which two freshmen had GPAs below 1.765, but, we did constantly hear about Wall's 3.5+ GPA.........

Worst of 9 SEC schools? That's really saying something........

 

[Catpaw]

Looks like all is not well in "Big Blue Nation."

The same Kentucky team that won the Southeastern Conference regular-season and post-season tournament championships had a cumulative grade-point average of 2.025 for the fall semester, according to records obtained by the Herald-Leader through an open records request. That was the worst of nine SEC schools that gave their men's basketball GPAs to the newspaper.

The UK players' individual GPAs in the fall semester ranged from 3.59 to 1.667. Four were at 2.0 or lower. Two were better than 3.0. (UK released only the individual averages, not the names of players who made the grades.)

Bell noted that UK players must have had at least a 1.8 grade-point average in the fall semester to be eligible in the spring, according to NCAA rules. Yet two UK players had GPAs below that standard: 1.667 and 1.765.

The minimum GPA requirement of 1.8 does not take effect until the start of an athlete's second year, so the 1.667 and 1.765 averages apparently belonged to players in their first years.

Full Article: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/05/02/1248238/uk-basketball-low-on-the-gpa-scale.html#ixzz0msxXXDYV


It's the offseason and I thought this might drum up some discussion. I'm not going to speculate which two freshmen had GPAs below 1.765, but, we did constantly hear about Wall's 3.5+ GPA.........

Worst of 9 SEC schools? That's really saying something........

How shocking that Cousins, Wall, and Bledsoe didn't go to school lol. What a joke school in a joke conference.

 

[Red_N_Black_Attack]

Does anyone have similar data for the Bearcat basketball team?

 

[JasonS]

Just another way Calipari makes a mockery of college athletics.

 

[JasonS]

Does anyone have similar data for the Bearcat basketball team?

I haven't seen any reported numbers for the entire team (still looking) but Lance Stephenson did have a 3.4 GPA. I thought it was possible he might have mailed it in knowing he was going pro, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

 

[swg]

Grade issues? No way.

 

[Red_N_Black_Attack]

I haven't seen any reported numbers for the entire team (still looking) but Lance Stephenson did have a 3.4 GPA. I thought it was possible he might have mailed it in knowing he was going pro, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

That is good to hear especially as I believe his leaving early in good academic standing would not affect our scholarships down the road.

 

[dp3113]

honestly, i dont think this is a big deal. none of these guys had any intention of staying after february, and they probably stopped going to class. on that note, we might not have much room to talk...via twitter:

CashmereUC1 Jus had a exam in a class that I have never been too..... But now it's over and I'm done for today......

 

[BearcatAlum1]

honestly, i dont think this is a big deal. none of these guys had any intention of staying after february, and they probably stopped going to class. on that note, we might not have much room to talk...via twitter:

CashmereUC1 Jus had a exam in a class that I have never been too..... But now it's over and I'm done for today......

Some people are just naturally gifted and do not need to attend class in order to pull solid grades.

 

[Kingsley Court]

Just another way Calipari makes a mockery of college athletics.

I don't see how you can draw that conclusion from this. It's not Calipari that makes kids go to college for 1 year before being allowed to go to the draft. It's the NBA that has done this, you can't force these 1 and dones to go to class.

I guess the only way you could put blame on Calipari for this is because he recruits one and dones. If that means he is making a mockery of college athletics so be it, but again, he didn't make the stupid rule about having to be out of high school for one year.

 

[BearcatAlum1]

I don't see how you can draw that conclusion from this. It's not Calipari that makes kids go to college for 1 year before being allowed to go to the draft. It's the NBA that has done this, you can't force these 1 and dones to go to class.

I guess the only way you could put blame on Calipari for this is because he recruits one and dones. If that means he is making a mockery of college athletics so be it, but again, he didn't make the stupid rule about having to be out of high school for one year.

I believe this comes down to responsibility and accountability (Bearcat Jeff's thunder). Calipari is not responsible to babysit these kids, make sure they study for every exam, make sure they say the alphabet before going to bed at night, etc., but he is ultimately accountable for their actions (after all, these are HIS PLAYERS).

 

[Kingsley Court]

True, but how are you going to convince a kid who is a sure fire first round pick, only came to college because of the stupid rule change by the NBA, to go to class. What is the point of going to class when you know you will be making millions within a year? If someone wants to place blame on someone for these one and done kids for not going to class, blame the NBA.

 

[BearcatAlum1]

True, but how are you going to convince a kid who is a sure fire first round pick, only came to college because of the stupid rule change by the NBA, to go to class. What is the point of going to class when you know you will be making millions within a year? If someone wants to place blame on someone for these one and done kids for not going to class, blame the NBA.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but something has to give. FWIW, we don't know that the poor grades were a result of not going to class after each player entered the draft. I don't think the article mentioned it. Wall had a 3.0 or higher, and he is supposedly the surefire #1 pick.

Just saying...

I blame the NBA and NCAA, not just the NBA.

 

[swg]

The NCAA is trying to have its cake and eat it too.

The fact is, if the kids are in school, they should be getting marginally decent grades or the school should be held accountable. Unlike other students, the university goes out of its way to bring in these 'scholar-athletes'. By doing so, they make a mockery of the system. Now I don't care if these kids leave and make millions, but I do think they should be getting at least 2.0 gpa while they are in school. Not doing so makes a complete mockery of the what the NCAA is trying to push.
What the waivers did is hold one class of schools to a standard that a select few don't.

 

[cincinnati insanity]

It doesnt matter whos fault it is either Cals or UK or the kids, even though Cal is cheating up and out front he will not be penalized for it and neither will UK. So bad grades or not , cheating or not nothing will come of it so it dont matter. What about the the thing with the fake twitter to MT if that were Uc they would of arrested Huggins and Kennedy LOL!!!!!!!!!!! UK is allowed to be dirty and Cal is allowed to be dirty and the NCAA will turn the other cheek because UK=$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ I had a friend that new Eric Bledsoe while he was in Highschool i asked him the chance of us landing him he told me pretty good but then said that he knows fore sure that Bledsoe didnt have the grades or the score to get in college and would have to go the prep route, guess what as soon as he verballed to UK he wasnt even in academic trouble. makes you think!!!!!

 

[JasonS]

I believe this comes down to responsibility and accountability (Bearcat Jeff's thunder). Calipari is not responsible to babysit these kids, make sure they study for every exam, make sure they say the alphabet before going to bed at night, etc., but he is ultimately accountable for their actions (after all, these are HIS PLAYERS).

Exactly. People always bashed UC and Huggins because of perceived grade issues yet when I do the same thing with Calipari, now it isn't his fault? He is the one responsible for these kids and his program. If they don't go to class or their grades aren't acceptable, they should be suspended until they get their act together. The NCAA is ultimately to blame here but by allowing these kids to have a GPA below 2.0 makes a mockery of the entire "student athlete" situation.

 

[MDW79]

I hope UK fans enjoy it while it lasts. By year 4 of Cal they will have one of lowest APR scores in the country, lose multiple scholarships and most likely be looking for a new coach. This situation has train wreck written all over it. The NCAA/media/fans overlook a lot depending on the program but there is no way they can dismiss that APR come 2012.

 

[JasonS]

I hope UK fans enjoy it while it lasts. By year 4 of Cal they will have one of lowest APR scores in the country, lose multiple scholarships and most likely be looking for a new coach. This situation has train wreck written all over it. The NCAA/media/fans overlook a lot depending on the program but there is no way they can dismiss that APR come 2012.

I hope you're right. We will all know if something is coming down on UK as soon as Cal takes an NBA job.

 

[BearcatAlum1]

I hope you're right. We will all know if something is coming down on UK as soon as Cal takes an NBA job.

Funny you mention that, because Jerry Meyer of Rivals recently mentioned that Brandon Knight did not sign a Letter of Intent out of fear that Calipari might go to the NBA.

 

[JasonS]

Funny you mention that, because Jerry Meyer of Rivals recently mentioned that Brandon Knight did not sign a Letter of Intent out of fear that Calipari might go to the NBA.

I heard someone mention something (forget where...might have even been someone here) about Cal going to the Nets with WWW as his agent and then LeBron going to NJ to play for Cal and his buddy Jay-Z who is in the ownership group. As much as this would suck for Cavs fans, it could be great for Bearcat fans. More than likely, Teague would be a Bearcat in this situation.