Big Blue Topia would like to wish all UK fans a very merry Christmas! I hope you take this time to remember the true meaning of the season.
-No news will be coming from the NCAA until January. The overall belief is the NCAA will be "editing" their rules and will rule on Kanter based upon these new rules. There is two ways to look at this. The pessimistic way of thinking is they are making sure that no one can play in the same way that Cam Newton was able to play. This has many believing the new rules will hurt Kanter's chances of being eligible.
The optimistic believe that the NCAA will be adjusting their rules to help Kanter. As I've mentioned before the NCAA went to the appeals committee and vouched for Kanter and told them to over rule their ruling. The NCAA (how dumb this may be) can not waver from the rules in places, they must go by the rules and if there is a rule that needs to be corrected, the appeals committee is suppose to correct this wrongdoing. Then at some point the NCAA can modify their rules.
So basically the NCAA cannot rule Kanter eligible based upon the current rules. They would need to modify the rules and then rule on Kanter.
I haven't felt good about the Kanter situation ever since the NCAA ruled him ineligible the first time. I do like the fact they are waiting on deciding on Kanter until the new rules are in place. If they intended to rule him ineligible, they would not need to hold off in doing so...they have already ruled him ineligible based upon the current rules. The Newton situation may have thrown some what of a monkey wrench into the situation but they are not the exact same situation (Kanter's family took money and the Newton's have not been proven to have done so...that's a significant difference) and the NCAA hasn't likely changed their mind of their interpretation of the current rules.
Does this mean Kanter will play this season? No, not at all. He could easily be given a year suspension. Kanter's dad recently publicly said that Kanter will be back next season if he is required to sit out this year. This came as a surprise with him being a projected lottery pick. He has already given up millions to play overseas, so what's one more year? His father is a doctor and they are not in need of a quick payoff from the NBA.
It wouldn't surprise me at all if this is the compromise in this situation. Both sides would be able to take something from this. Of course UK could really use his post presence this season but the NCAA shouldn't base eligibility decisions based upon if a team really needs the player or not...
It may actually be a blessing in disguise. This season with Kanter we are a clear final four contender but not a clear national champion front runner. We could still win it with him any top 15 team could...but the odds are still against it. If he plays this season he is likely gone to the pros after getting the taste of college.
Next season if we lose Knight, Jones and Kanter we are looking at a clear preseason top 3 team thanks to the return of Liggins, Miller, Lamb and company and bringing in an amazing freshman class. As our freshman gain experience we could easily be the top seed in the tourney. If we have Kanter, he may be the piece that turns our team from being a "contender" for the title into the clear favorite. That team has the potential to be better than the 96 team, depending on how well they can play together...but the talent would clearly be there.
Of course us UK fans are not patient and we want him to play now and worry about later, well later...but if in fact we don't get Kanter this year, there could be a "bright side."
Now worse case scenario is still a very real possibility. The NCAA is not known for having an amazing level of logic/common sense and they may find for some reason to keep Kanter ineligible and the appeals committee could back this up.
If so, life goes on and UK will still be UK and we will still be the team that is most feared in the recruiting world. UK fans will still root for Kanter in the pros and hopefully Kanter will come back and visit as often as he can.
Have a wonderful Christmas! Enjoy it! Go Cats!
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