NCAA Investigation of Bruce Pearl & Tennessee Basketball involves Aaron Craft & Josh Selby
by Will Shelton on Sep 14, 2010 6:28 PM EDT
in Tennessee Volunteer Basketball
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PrintGary Parrish is reporting tonight that Bruce Pearl hosted Aaron Craft and Josh Selby in his home during the Fall of 2008, which violates a rule stating that high school juniors are not allowed to have off-campus contact with college coaches. Both Craft and Selby committed to Tennessee, and both Craft and Selby eventually signed elsewhere (Ohio State and Kansas, respectively).
Parrish goes on to report that Pearl lied to NCAA assistant director of enforcement Kristen Matha when asked about the in-home event. Parrish's sources say the NCAA already had photographic evidence of Pearl and Craft inside his home at the time, which, if true, means Pearl was busted right away and not found out later.
These allegations fall in line with the "inappropriate contact" theme we've heard for the last several days, and this certainly sheds some light on the timetable in terms of Pearl's truthfulness with the NCAA.
For Pearl, it comes as a blessing that these allegations came to light during the biggest home stretch of Tennessee's football schedule. The focus on campus is, as always, dominated by football, especially with Oregon and Florida in town. This basketball situation will drag on for several months in all likelihood before word of any additional punishments from the NCAA comes down.
The situation is obviously serious...but exactly how serious is it to you, the Tennessee fan?
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Major screwup...
but also his first, I’m sure he’ll be on a short leash… and I’m also sure we’ll do just fine.
I put a "4"
Because, as Caban said, this seems to be a very major screw-up. I’m extremely, extremely disappointed in him, but like Caban also said I think he’ll be on a short leash with the school given that this is his first thing (and given that he’s been successful as a Coach, first and foremost, and has handled his job very seriously). I do want to know how far Pearl’s consciousness went in admitting to the improprieties or how much he was just trying to dance in front of the axe.
I’m certainly anticipating the worst, here, though.
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I will give my North Carolina for Tennessee Today. Apparently.
Yeah...
the axe has always been there if this report is true, and he was caught in the lie the moment it left his lips. Whether he figured that out eventually or it was actually him making the right decision to confess of his own doing, we’ll probably never know.
I also put a 4, just because the self-imposed penalties are really unprecedented, and therefore I don’t feel like tourney probation is the most likely outcome…yet.
by Will Shelton on Sep 14, 2010 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions
My question is this, for those who know more about BBall Recruiting:
Just how big is it for the Coaches to not be allowed off campus recruiting visits?
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I will give my North Carolina for Tennessee Today. Apparently.
Big time
It means not going to the AAU camps/tournys….were the majority of recruiting is done. Plus no in home visits.
Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, is just a freight train coming your way...
@btcoop71
^This
Despite the recent oncourt success, Tennessee is still not an elite program. Kids flock to Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, etc. They do not dream of playing in Knoxville. You need coaches, like btcoop said, out in the weeds pulling these players in to TBA. Take that away and all you get is local talent which won’t get you back to the tourney.
But it is only for one year
And we do already have two big-time commits in that class.
by Incipient_Senescence on Sep 14, 2010 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Minimal effect...
assuming the NCAA doesn’t decide to make it worse… we’ve already pretty much filled that class, and the kids don’t seem to want to switch commitments.
If anything, while I’m sure CBP is going to be tearing his hair out from having to sit still for a year… he’ll likely replace that time working on his coaching.
I put a "2" here's why:
I take the long-view perspective here. This is going to hurt short term, no doubt. Maybe even for a couple of seasons, but do you have any doubt that Pearl (if given the opportunity) could turn us into a Top 10 program once again after sanctions have passed? I don’t. Moreover, even with sanctions, we’ll be better off with Pearl than we were without sanctions before Pearl.
As an undergrad I lived through the Buzz Peterson Era of Tennessee basketball, and when I think back to this time, it’s really easy for me to say “eh, it’s not so bad,” especially considering how the university got out ahead of the NCAA with self-imposed sanctions.
You can take the boy out of Tennessee, but you can't take make him stop wearing Orange.
Don't let this change your mind,
but Kentucky fans undoubtedly appreciate the logic. ;-)
by David Hooper on Sep 14, 2010 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions
You know what they say...
j/k
Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, is just a freight train coming your way...
@btcoop71
Well played, bt
You can take the boy out of Tennessee, but you can't take make him stop wearing Orange.
by kingofzachland on Sep 14, 2010 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't realize hosting players at your house was a violation.
I just finished reading On Rocky Top and one of the things mentioned is how Fulmer was in the middle of renovating his house for the main purpose of being able to better host recruits on visits.
I also remember reading main stream media stories of how recruits loved visiting Pat Summits house and how she made the best ribs.
Basically, I didn’t think this was a big deal nor a secret. Is there something I’m missing?
Bring it across, shape it down
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