Coaches frown on UK’s early Madness

Kentucky better enjoy staging its Big Blue Madness a week earlier than almost all other programs because it seems UK won’t be able to circumvent the rule on starting pre-season practice in the future.

The National Association of Basketball Coaches has told the NCAA that it would support a ban on early Madness celebrations. Jim Haney, the NABC executive director, said on Wednesday that he expects the NCAA to mandate that all Madness celebrations begin on the same date beginning next year.

Pre-season practices can begin on Oct. 17 this year. Kentucky circumvented that rule by manipulating another rule which allows coaches to work with their teams for two hours each week from Sept. 15 to Oct. 17. After getting permission from the NCAA, UK decided to save its two hours next week and use them as part of a Madness celebration on Oct. 10.

Illinois also will stage its Madness on Oct. 10, Haney said.

The earlier date gave Kentucky and Illinois an exclusive chance to impress recruiting prospects.

The problem is the early Madness could be used by opponents of another coaching wish being promoted by the NABC. The organization wants to persuade the NCAA to allow coaches to work with players in the summer. But, Haney said, critics to use the circumvention of Madness rules as a reason not to grant coaches more access to players.

“They’d say it’s an example of coaches being not all that interested in working with kids,” Haney said. “This is about recruiting.”

Haney termed the NABC’s opposition to early Madness celebrations as looking out for the best interests of the game.

The NABC position on Madness marks the second time this year that the organization has opposed an action by Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie. Earlier this year, the NABC called for its coaches not to offer scholarships to prospects in the ninth grade or younger. This call came after UK accepted a commitment from eighth grader Michael Avery.

When asked what should be read into the NABC twice objecting to Kentucky’s actions, Haney said, “We have to find a better way to communicate (to make sure) we’re all on the same page.

“I don’t think anybody’s trying to label Billy as a bad guy or doing bad things. The (NABC) board is looking at what’s in the best interest of the game.”