Will this help the Cats?

I'm not a Kentucky fan, but will Morris help them salvage a respectable season?


NCAA reduces suspension for Kentucky's Morris

By MURRAY EVANS, Associated Press Writer
December 15, 2005
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Kentucky center Randolph Morris' season-long suspension for his attempt to enter the NBA draft was reduced to 14 games Thursday by the NCAA.

The NCAA cited new information for softening its punishment after Morris tried to go into the draft. Additional information provided by the school showed that Morris clearly intended to retain his collegiate eligibility while declaring for the draft, the NCAA said in a statement.

The new information "provides additional understanding of Morris' original intent to enter the NBA draft as well as his mind-set during that process," the NCAA said.


Morris, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, also must repay expenses related to the tryouts -- which amounted to more than $7,000 from nine NBA teams, the NCAA said.

"In exploring my NBA options, I made poor choices," Morris said. "Those choices included accepting bad advice while putting distance between me and my coaches and teammates at UK. I take full responsibility for those actions.

"It wasn't obvious to me as I was going through this process, but looking back, I now see how my actions were disrespectful to coach (Tubby) Smith and the University of Kentucky. Playing basketball at the University of Kentucky is a privilege that few athletes get to enjoy. I intend to make the most of this opportunity to be a part of the greatest basketball program in America."

Kentucky provided the NCAA the original copy of a fax sent by Morris to Smith, notifying the coach of his plans to enter the draft. In the one-paragraph fax -- released by the university on Thursday -- Morris told Smith that "my intent is not to obtain an agent so as to maintain my collegiate eligibility."

Smith said he had misplaced the fax and only found it last week.

Morris will miss all of Kentucky's nonconference schedule, including a showdown with No. 4 Louisville on Saturday, but will be available for the Southeastern Conference opener against Vanderbilt on Jan. 10.

He can continue to practice with the Wildcats in the interim and will have two years of eligibility remaining after this season.

"Based on all the information we had and all the extenuating circumstances, both Randolph and we have been very patient waiting for this opportunity," Smith said. "I'm very happy for Randolph, his family and our basketball program."

The Wildcats (6-3) have struggled with their inside game without Morris. Smith has rotated a trio of 7-footers -- Shagari Alleyne, Lukasz Obrzut and Jared Carter -- and used a smaller starting lineup without a true center in several games. That strategy worked against the lesser teams but not so well in losses to Iowa, North Carolina and Indiana -- the last a 26-point blowout.

Morris started 33 of 34 games last season, averaging 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as Kentucky finished 28-6.

The return of Morris will help UK tremendously. The Cats have been looking for their identity, and Morris' inside presence will help the offense finally move.

Nothing is gonna help them, Morris is terrible and are probably better off without him. They are a terrible team, Sparks is a liability. Granted he makes some outside shots, but his decision making and defense (or lack there of) put Kentucky in an even worse hole. I like Rondo, dont get me wrong, but he is no Wayne Turner. Rondo makes to many bad decisions in the open court, not to mention he couldnt hit watre if he threw the ball off a boat in the middle of the pacific.

Yeah, if Wayne Turner was in the lineup, UK would definitely have a better record. Rondo definitely lacks Turner's ability to drive to the hole and dish to the open man. Rondo can do that, but mostly late in the game when trying to get quick baskets. If Rondo could learn to do that consistently, all game, he'd definitely improve.

Rondo cant shoot, fact.

Yeah I know, being as I am a truest of a kentucky fan (meaning I want guys like Pelphry, Woods, Turner, Brassow, Edwards, Dent, Mills etc.) It seems to me they just dont have that certain thing former UK players, seemed to have, UK fans know what I am saying, I love UK, still always no matter the record, its just frustraiting seeing some of the things that have happened.

Im dissapointed in Crawford. Im pleased with Mozz and Bradley. I feel Rondo needs to just expand his game, which Im sure he is trying to do, dont get me wrong as if Im some know it all, its just you would think at times they would change things up. Orbzuit and Alleyne arent gonna turn out like Nazzy did Im afraid.

Just a frustraiting time to be a UK fan right now.

there's a Boggs kid from Va who is as big a UK fan as JJ was a Duke fan, and dun dun dun...he's better

JJ is a choad.

haha i dont think youll get much resistence there...just tellin ya...with a play on field of dreams..."if you offer, he will come"

right right, this is the first year I havent really kept up with UK recruiting, they usually have alot of publications and such that keep UK fans pretty in the know on UK recruits, but to be honest, I havent had the desire to pay much attention to it.

I hope they get someone who can shoot the ball. They lack that and have since Tayshaun left.