Kentucky Coach John Calipari said that Enes Kanter’s well being, not how the basketball program holds up, is the key in the aftermath of a NCAA decision making the freshman permanently ineligible.
“Ten years from now, Kentucky will have moved on,” Calipari said. “. . . I’m only worried about an 18-year-old and what it does to him.”
More than once, Calipari noted that Kanter is the youngest player — now non-player — on UK’s roster.
When asked how Kanter was reacting to the decision, Calipari said, “He’s OK.”
Then the UK coach added, “I’m trying to convince him, ‘You’ll be fine.’ “
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.
