Skal Labissière, very simple question.

[Aike]

Cal said recently he's confident Skal would be eligible. Why would he say that if it still wasn't in question? Seems like he would have just said he has been cleared. If the season begins with this still a question I don't think Cal can play him. To do so would be to risk at least perhaps having to forfeit those games if he's ruled ineligible, and maybe more. UK is not UNC.

He said it because reporters asked him.

They asked if he was confident Skal would be eligible. He said, "Oh yeah. Yeah, yeah."

It's still a question because somebody made it a question months ago. Technically, no freshman are cleared to play yet, as far as I know.

I can't tell if you're just trying to be contrary or what. Did you expect Cal to ignore the reporters' question? How could he have answered that question to please you?

 

[dave5164]

I believe when there could be possibly problems with a Player being eligible we always here it from all the Media sources. An example is Diallo from Kansas that we have been hearing for the last month or two from all Media Sources and also from Kansas Head Coach Bill Self. Bill Self has said a few times that Diallo has not been cleared by the NCAA and he had no Idea when they would hear when he would be eligible to play for Kansas. In Labissiere case this hasn't been mentioned in any way by the Media that Labissiere is not eligible to play and top it off when Coach Cal was asked if he was eligible and he came back quickly saying yes and playing in the 1st game.

 

[ccukuk]

Kwilt for three (a stupid name, a fruitionless name, and a stupid poster). Skal is important. This is a top ten team even without him. Put this in the junk area

 

[brianpoe]

Labissiere transferred a year ago and was declared ineligible to play his senior season of high school basketball in Memphis. That's why he is being investigated, and it doesn't sound fishy to me.

That is not my understanding. He was ineligible because the move was for academic reasons. Nothing to do with NCAA eligibility. I believe that if anything is looked into it will be his guardian and his supposed asking for money for Skal's services.

How about when Noal went down. Homer or not you gotta face that UK won't be very good without Skal. Take the glasses off and realize just how good Skal is. Without Skal there is zero and I mean zero inside presence on this team next year. Nit sounds about right with any key injuries to skal or murray.

NIT? C'mon Rondo this is a guard's game and we have about 12 of those. See UConn twice.

That was one of your poorer efforts.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

Skal is a good student and has not been accused of any sort of improper benefits. This is smoke coming from the actions of his less than noble guardian. Much like Nerlens. It is a non issue.

 

[W2R]

That is not my understanding. He was ineligible because the move was for academic reasons. Nothing to do with NCAA eligibility. I believe that if anything is looked into it will be his guardian and his supposed asking for money for Skal's services.






NIT? C'mon Rondo this is a guard's game and we have about 12 of those. See UConn twice.

That was one of your poorer efforts.

Academics were never in question. TSAA declared him ineligible because his handler pulled him from the school he was attending and applied to multiple schools. Nothing was ever cleared and there were many ready to pull the trigger to TSAA so they declared him ineligible for his senior season. We see this all,the time especially in the same town. This has nothing to do with Skal but his handler Hamilton. It doesn't sit well with anyone that he fostered TWO refugees from Haiti but when he found out the other wasn't good at basketball he shipped him up north with family. SKAL is a great kid bit Hamiton is a Joke. Hamilton has cooled off but his greed almost cost Skal everything. After Skals back injury and the Lawson's and their father committing to Memphis is when this all started. Hamilton should have kept Skal at his original HS if he wasn't going out of state to a prep school but Hamilton was too greedy to let him go.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

The NCAA knows all about the AAU kingpins of Memphis and that they do what it takes to push their best players to Memphis so they would need more people who are unbiased claiming the guardian asked for money to make him ineligible to play. And in today's day and age with UK having enough money to lawyer up, the NCAA would need proof . The academic side of things are good to go.. there are no questions there.

Worst case scenario is the NCAA feels the guardian took some money and makes him pay it back with Skal sitting 10-16 games or however many for how much money they thought was taken .

Alexander's case was very different, his family took benefits during the school year which meant he played while ineligible ... now if this happened say in the summer , he would of had to of paid the money back and missed some games like all those before him... Boatright at UConn is one off the top of my head... got a new car and just had to give it back and miss something like half a season.

 

[Uk1111]

Alien spacecraft's technology are both from either actual aliens, times travelers from the future, and we now have some of this technology from downed aircrafts, seriously.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

ive seen ufos that do things that we just don't have (that we know of). And I can't help but be excited if they are aliens or mad as heck if they are ours because if that's the case the super elites are keeping technology from us that could benefit our lives

 

[nookam]

Like Cliff Alexander at KU? Dude personally did nothing wrong except have a woefully low BBIQ and under perform. It was his momma that effed up his future. He didn't know.

He could have been pretty good after another year or two.

By the way, in light of the UNC thing, Uk and Kanter got a first class screw job.

Alexander damn well had to know, 7 kids in the family and traveling to Orlando and the away games. He would have to know why suddenly they had cash. He was over 18 at the time of loan for him, he had to sign it. I can't even get my kids health records without their signature. They never produced the loan papers for a reason, if it was only her, they would have given it to NCAA. No doubt, over 18 he had to sign it. KU should have to vacate all games he played in. They would sure as hell make UK with Cal if if was the same situation. He admitted, they needed the money.

 

[Aike]

Could be inter-dimensional beings. I'm just saying.

 

[BoulderCat]

He said it because reporters asked him.

They asked if he was confident Skal would be eligible. He said, "Oh yeah. Yeah, yeah."

It's still a question because somebody made it a question months ago. Technically, no freshman are cleared to play yet, as far as I know.

I can't tell if you're just trying to be contrary or what. Did you expect Cal to ignore the reporters' question? How could he have answered that question to please you?

"would be", not "is". Perhaps your right and no one has been cleared yet, but there's an NCAA web site where prospective NCAA player's can check their status. Obviously only Skal can do that, but I wonder if his is the same as the other freshmen.

 

[Aike]

"would be", not "is". Perhaps your right and no one has been cleared yet, but there's an NCAA web site where prospective NCAA player's can check their status. Obviously only Skal can do that, but I wonder if his is the same as the other freshmen.

My understanding is that the clearing process works on football players first, before moving on to basketball players. In that regard, no basketball players are technically cleared to play yet.

There does not appear to be any cause for concern. Not that it ever stopped this board from tripping out in the past.

 

[Bigblueforever]

Most fans want everything cleared up at once, that just the way it is.

 

[Blue Decade]

He said it because reporters asked him.

They asked if he was confident Skal would be eligible. He said, "Oh yeah. Yeah, yeah."

I can just about guarantee you that's wrong. If Calipari wasn't very confident that Labissiere will be eligible, he would have dodged the question or just refused to answer it. Go back and look at how Calipari answered questions about Enes Kanter when we were waiting on the NCAA to rule on him. It was very different, because Calipari knew Kanter's eligibility was in trouble. If Calipari says he is very confident that Labissiere will be eligible, he is saying it because he means it.

 

[Aike]

I can just about guarantee you that's wrong. If Calipari wasn't very confident that Labissiere will be eligible, he would have dodged the question or just refused to answer it. Go back and look at how Calipari answered questions about Enes Kanter when we were waiting on the NCAA to rule on him. It was very different, because Calipari knew Kanter's eligibility was in trouble. If Calipari says he is very confident that Labissiere will be eligible, he is saying it because he means it.

You are agreeing with me. What part was wrong?

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

the correct way to say it is if he stays eligible. He will be eligible academically, thats guaranteed... the only thing that could happen is if the NCAA had an investigation and found money changed hands in which they would then rule him ineligible.

If the NCAA finds anything, I promise you, one would leak it to Thamel, Goodman, Parrish or some other media member and there would be an article about what was possibly found very quick.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

Damn the homers in this board have it bad. If you think we would be anywhere near the top 15 without Skal you are nuts. We would have an undersized PF, a skinny PF whose best offense is a dunk, and 2 freshmen centers who are not impact players.

Even with Skal, our frontcourt isn't anything special. It's just pretty good.

If Alex, Marcus, Tai and Hump were UL's only frontcourt players then the same homers calling that a great frontcourt at UK would be laughing at it if it were at UL.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

Damn the homers in this board have it bad. If you think we would be anywhere near the top 15 without Skal you are nuts. We would have an undersized PF, a skinny PF whose best offense is a dunk, and 2 freshmen centers who are not impact players.

Even with Skal, our frontcourt isn't anything special. It's just pretty good.

If Alex, Marcus, Tai and Hump were UL's only frontcourt players then the same homers calling that a great frontcourt at UK would be laughing at it if it were at UL.

Our front court isn't anything special even with Skal? Did you have a stroke? We have a special front court .. a senior Poythress , junior Lee and Skal who is a top 3 draft pick... Then either Murray will play the 3 or Matthews/Mulder plays great enough they move Murray to the 2 and either way it adds a gifted 3 to add to our front court.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Maybe Alexander knew, maybe he didn't. His camp has nothing to gain by saying that he knew.

As for Skal, his case is even more extreme because you have a refugee who maybe had a handler trying to cash in. So if the handler cashes in, do you blame the poor kid from Haiti? Colossally stupid, if so.

Precisely; and is trying to cash in a violation, especially given the scenario Skal was in? With Selby, Boatright, Wall, and others, we saw a real tangible asset gained. It might have been $500; it might have been $8,000 - but it was actual money and or benefits gained.

There is absolutely no smoke that Skal's camp gained anything. Is asking for benefits a violation, and if the NCAA sets up that precedent, could someone retroactively go back on the social media platforms for other prospects and find cases where they hypothetically asked for a new car or a million dollars?

Looks a tad bit murky. I don't think Skal's out of the woods, but I also don't think there's much smoke - if any - that connects his camp to taking anything.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Damn the homers in this board have it bad. If you think we would be anywhere near the top 15 without Skal you are nuts. We would have an undersized PF, a skinny PF whose best offense is a dunk, and 2 freshmen centers who are not impact players.

Even with Skal, our frontcourt isn't anything special. It's just pretty good.

If Alex, Marcus, Tai and Hump were UL's only frontcourt players then the same homers calling that a great frontcourt at UK would be laughing at it if it were at UL.

I disagree. Any frontcourt with a future top 2 pick is special. In fact, I'd encourage you to list even five front courts that look to be better next year.

 

[jrpross]

Even with Skal, our frontcourt isn't anything special. It's just pretty good.

Uh. I'm pretty sure most people would say that Skal, Poythress, and Lee are arguably the best frontcourt in basketball this year. Kansas' will be right there if Diallo is cleared but who else is even close?

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

He said it because reporters asked him.

They asked if he was confident Skal would be eligible. He said, "Oh yeah. Yeah, yeah."

It's still a question because somebody made it a question months ago. Technically, no freshman are cleared to play yet, as far as I know.

I can't tell if you're just trying to be contrary or what. Did you expect Cal to ignore the reporters' question? How could he have answered that question to please you?

Indeed, and I'm not sure if I can take any argument seriously that highlights, in part, UNC as some sort of reliable comparison - since the verdict is still out on them, after all.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Uh. I'm pretty sure most people would say that Skal, Poythress, and Lee are arguably the best frontcourt in basketball this year. Kansas' will be right there if Diallo is cleared but who else is even close?

Yep. UK has a future top two pick and two other 2nd rounders.

Kansas has a projected top 15 pick, and another potential future first rounder. Maybe another guy as well who can squeeze on an NBADL career - Ellis.

 

[Aike]

Zaytoven tends to get a little bit hysterical.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Zaytoven tends to get a little bit hysterical.

I thought I had him on ignore...I guess not. Well opportunity is too good to pass up now.

 

[Dakota25]

Damn the homers in this board have it bad. If you think we would be anywhere near the top 15 without Skal you are nuts. We would have an undersized PF, a skinny PF whose best offense is a dunk, and 2 freshmen centers who are not impact players.

Even with Skal, our frontcourt isn't anything special. It's just pretty good.

If Alex, Marcus, Tai and Hump were UL's only frontcourt players then the same homers calling that a great frontcourt at UK would be laughing at it if it were at UL.

Damn the band wagon fans gave it bad. I mean without Skal we are only better than 341 teams or so which makes UK top ten. Perhaps you can cheer for unc or Louisville. Geeeez it's ridiculous that people think one guy will drop UK over ten rankings. Also our gaurds are the best in the country.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

Lets say Skal is ineligible for some crazy reason and they go completely against past precedence and not allow him to pay back money and miss games... then I have no doubt Humphries will do extremely well for us. Remember what Harrellson turned into when Cal and Payne whipped him into shape once they found out Kanter was a no go? Well Humphries is a lot better starting out than Harrellson.

some detractors would point to what happened when Noel went down but UK didnt have close to the backcourt we have this year. we could play Poythress at the 5 and Matthews at the 4 and I still bet money we'd be top 10 all season

 

[IL Wildcat]

That's false, but everything I see tells me that he will be eligible.

We have no shot at what? At a title? You could be right about that, but this team has the talent to be in the conversation even without Skal...

How do you win in college basketball? It's not with frontcourt primarily. It's with backcourt play. And this team has a load of great backcourt players this coming season. It starts with Ulis. And after him we've got Murray (who may be the best incoming guard in the country). And let's not forget Briscoe, who may be the best point guard in his class not named Murray. And then we've got Mulder who can shoot with range and accuracy and Matthews who can slash and finish well.

And it's not like the frontcourt is a bare cupboard, either. Poythress is moving back to the power forward position and is a senior. He's going to be ready. And Lee is no scrub and he has Final Four experience. He knows what it takes and he has been improving. Willis is back and can provide help down low if needed. And even if Labissiere is ineligible, UK has Humphries coming in who is a mobile 7-footer and also Wynyard coming in mid-year.

So, if you're saying the Cats have no chance to be a good team without Skal, you're just wrong. If you say they're not in the title conversation without Skal, you're wrong there too. They're in the conversation. If you're saying we won't win a title without him, well, we all know that winning a title is hard and requires a bit of luck, even if every piece is in place, so you're not really going out on a limb there.

 

[IL Wildcat]

Damn the band wagon fans gave it bad. I mean without Skal we are only better than 341 teams or so which makes UK top ten. Perhaps you can cheer for unc or Louisville. Geeeez it's ridiculous that people think one guy will drop UK over ten rankings. Also our gaurds are the best in the country.

I think you're right Dakota25. Skal is an important piece to the puzzle, without question. None of us is sure just how good he will be, but he's gonna be a top player. But to discount Poythress as a senior and Lee as a junior is foolish. I suppose we're just not used to having upperclassmen or having players come back and improve. Most programs count on these things. We're just used to having Freshman phenoms come in and start from day one and be the key piece to a Final Four run. The other very valid answer here is the backcourt, as I said above. In college, it's all about the backcourt. Heck, with the guards we have in Ulis, Murray, and Briscoe, who can all pass exceptionally well, all a big man has to do is catch and dunk and we're gonna be very good. These guys are going to make our frontcourt players much better.

 

[Stonewall12]

He has not been cleared by the NCAA.

You mean he has not been told he can not play.

UK would play him tomorrow if they had a game .

 

[W2R]

Damn the homers in this board have it bad. If you think we would be anywhere near the top 15 without Skal you are nuts. We would have an undersized PF, a skinny PF whose best offense is a dunk, and 2 freshmen centers who are not impact players.

Even with Skal, our frontcourt isn't anything special. It's just pretty good.

If Alex, Marcus, Tai and Hump were UL's only frontcourt players then the same homers calling that a great frontcourt at UK would be laughing at it if it were at UL.

I'm just wondering how you felt the decade before Calipari got here and we weren't getting the overall number one player or half the top ten recruits. Tubby had some decent classes but no John Wall, cousins, knight , Randle , mkg, KAT, Skal type players. If we had ONE of these players each year it would be a HUGE ordeal, much less multiple ones. The guys you trash were the norm. This is what I don't understand. Some fans complain after we lose after 38 straight wins that Cal doesn't recruit more multi year players and complain when the top talent leaves, but when Cal recruits multi year players some fans complain they aren't good enough and they are project players or not good enough to even be on the floor. You can't have it both ways. We are in a special era of UK basketball whether you want to realize it or not. cal has been to almost %25 of ou final fours in our glorious history. He said he would recruit the best of the best. When has he failed us? 10"years without a final four but we make the tourney. Or four final fours and a title but one bad nit year after an injury..... Which would you take if you had the choice? cal has pulled more high profile recruits in July and August when most rosters are set than most coaches dream of in a year!

 

[davekersey]

A trusted source is saying Skal has been cleared and that it happened approximately a week ago. That's all I got.

 

[Stonewall12]

For a truth hound you sure do fib a lot.

 

[Orange Soda King]

Skal will be fine