Monday, March 13, 2000
DUI dims UK's prospects
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Kentucky's least-likely charge at a championship since its NCAA probation has now drawn longer odds and become colored with controversy.
Sophomore starting forward Desmond Allison was suspended from the team after being arrested and charged with driving under the influence early Sunday morning in Lexington.
Allison will be suspended temporarily, according to the UK Athletics Association's Student-Athlete Alcohol Policy, and is not expected to play again this season. If Allison is convicted of DUI, he will be suspended indefinitely and will forfeit his scholarship.
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ST. BONAVENTURE
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• About the school: Location— Olean, N.Y.; Nickname—
Bonnies; Colors—Brown and white.
• Record: 21-9 (11-5, Atlantic 10).
• How they got here: At-large bid.
• Coach: Jim Baron, seventh year, 114-118 (13th season overall, 188-189).
• Key players: Tim Winn (13.7 pts, 4.2 assists); Caswell Cyrus (12.1 pts, 6.2 reb); Peter Van Paassen (10.2 pts, 7.1 reb).
• Notable: First NCAA Tournament appearance since 1978.
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SOLD OUT
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Tickets to the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Region first- and second-round games in Cleveland are sold out. Kentucky received 450 tickets from the 13,610 available; there will be no public sale of those tickets.
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That news dimmed hopes already lessened by an unfavorable NCAA Tournament draw. The No. 16-ranked Wildcats (22-9) drew the fifth seed in the Midwest Region and begin play Thursday against 12th seed St. Bonaventure (21-9) at Cleveland State's Convocation Center. Game times will be announced today.
Should UK advance, it will likely meet fourth seed Syracuse (24-5) in the second round, and top-seeded Michigan State (26-7) could await in a regional semifinal.
The loss of Allison, though, overshadowed talk of UK's seeding Sunday night.
“We have educated our team on the use of alcohol time and again, yet we have a young man who chose to put his life, and the lives of others, in danger,” UK coach Tubby Smith said in a statement. “I am deeply disappointed in his actions, and it comes at a time when our team and our fans should be excited about March Madness.
“However, Desmond will now have to pay the price, and we will abide by the Athletics Association's policy.”
ESPN reported Allison is facing charges of DUI, possession of marijuana and ignoring a red light.
Allison, the only returning starter from last season, has started 29 of 31 games this year and is averaging 7.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
UK's roster now numbers nine players, two of whom — Todd Tackett and Steve Masiello — hardly play. That means making do with a seven-player rotation.
The likely scenario is for sophomore Jules Camara to return to the starting lineup; he has started nine times this year. Camara would play at power forward, and sophomore Tayshaun Prince would switch from power forward to Allison's small forward position.
There wouldn't appear to be anyone in the Midwest Region UK couldn't beat; indeed, it already owns a victory over Michigan State. But the depth of the region is a concern.
“There may not be a tougher bracket,” CBS analyst Greg Gumbel said when announcing the draw.
UK, which has reached the Elite Eight seven of the past eight years, has its believers.
“Kentucky is always tournament-tough,” analyst Dick Vitale said on ESPN. “I wouldn't want Kentucky on my side of the draw.”
The seedings were made before the Selection Committee learned of Allison's suspension. The seeding seemed low to some experts, since UK stands No. 2 overall in the Ratings Percentage Index and shared the Southeastern Conference title with Florida, Tennessee and Louisiana State.
“They had a four-way quad championship, which made those teams tough to differentiate,” said Craig Thompson, the Selection Committee chairman. “There were also a number of upsets in the SEC Tournament that played into that situation. We seeded them very closely (together).”
The last time UK wasn't a third seed or better was in 1991, when probation prevented it from playing in the postseason. The last time it reached the NCAAs and was seeded lower than third was 1987, when it drew a No. 8 seed.
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