The Morning Dish – Wednesday, August 13th
Maybin Paralyzed: Former Louisville guard Marques Maybin remains paralyzed in serious condition after surgery following a motorcycle accident last week. Maybin had surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center Monday to fuse vertibrae to prevent further paralysis, according to Maybin’s father Michael Maybin. Due to the fact that Maybin was unemployed and did not have insurance, Louisville has established a fund through Kentucky-based Republic Bank.
Howell Suspended: The day after being arrested for criminal domestic violence, South Carolina center Rolando Howell has been suspended from the squad indefinitely. Head coach Dave Odom stated that Howell will not participate in any team-related activities until the situation is concluded. No court date has been set for Howell, who was arrested after hitting and choking his girlfriend in their apartment over the weekend.
Buckeye Down: Ohio State Buckeye guard Emonte Jernigan has decided to leave the squad for personal reasons. Jernigan played just one season for Ohio State, having played for Santa Rosa Junior College the previous season, and at Oregon State his freshman year. Jernigan averaged 4 points per game in 31 contests last season, including seven starts.
Another Wildcat: Kentucky senior guard Antwain Barbour was cited for possession of marijuana during a traffic stop in June. Barbour, who averaged 3.4 points per game last season as a reserve, was stopped for speeding on Interstate 64, and during the course of the traffic stop, admitted that there were illegal drugs in his vehicle. Franklin County Sheriff Ted Collins stated that it was common practice for officers to ask the question, and is an officer’s decision whether to write a citation or make an arrest. Barbour’s attorney made a deal with prosecutors to drop the possession charge, and Barbour pleaded guilty to the speeding charge and paid a fine. A spokesperson for Kentucky stated that the school was aware of the citation and have handled it internally, and that Barbour was still a member of the Wildcat squad.
Recuit Rips Cincy: Highly-touted recruit Jamar Butler caused some controversy lately when he backed out of his oral commitment to Cincinnati and committed to Ohio State instead. Butler, who committed to Cincinnati as a sophomore, stated that he thought he had a better chance to graduate from Ohio State, slamming Cincinnati’s lower graduation rates. Bearcat head coach Bob Huggins then offered the scholarship tabbed for Butler to guard Vincent Banks of Atlanta, who accepted. Officially half of Huggins’ players (19 of 38) that have completed their eligibility have earned a degree.
No Change, For Now: The NCAA’s executive committee has announced that they will let schools with American Indian mascots could decide on their own whether to change the symbols or not – at least for the next two years. The committee decided against a proposal to eliminate all reference to American Indian mascot names, symbols, and logos in NCAA publications and announcements. Another proposal could be ready by September 2004 on the same issue.
Flashback: Former Duke and current Chicago Bulls guard Jay Williams got an unwelcome flashback recently as he caught an episode of ESPN’s reality series “Beg, Borrow and Deal”. In the episode, shot in May, two competing teams in the program met at Chicago Bulls training facility in Chicago, and Williams was part of the show, showing off his motorcycle in the parking lot. Later in the show, Williams said, “I’m not supposed to have [the motorcycle],” and rode off through the parking lot without a helmet. Three weeks later, Williams was critically injured in a motorcycle accident, and he will spend the next year in rehabilitation.
Tide Rolls II: Alabama did it again last night, downing the Bahamas national team 116-90 for their second win in as many games on their five game Caribbean swing. Earnest Shelton came off the bench and notched 31 points, while Kennedy Winston scored 27 points.
