The Morning Dish – Tuesday, August 26th
Big 12 Waiver: The Big 12 Conference voted yesterday to waive the intraconference transfer rule that forces players to sit out a year for transferring between Big 12 member institutions. The waiver will benefit two Baylor players that have transferred to other Big 12 schools – Kenny Thomas (to Texas) and John Lucas III (to Oklahoma State). Both players now will have immediate eligibility with their new teams. Thomas signed over a week ago with Texas, and Lucas enrolled in Oklahoma State yesterday as a result of the waiver being granted.
Missouri Probe: In light of the recent allegations regarding the Missouri basketball program, university president Elson Floyd ordered that an internal investigation be launched into Quin Snyder’s program. In recent weeks, allegations involving improper payments and gifts, academic fraud, and questionable recruiting practices have been brought to light, most of which are centered around former Missouri player Ricky Clemons, who was dismissed from the team while he was serving a 60 day jail sentence for assault against his ex-girlfriend. The investigation would encompass the smaller effort investigating Clemons, and is to be led by Michael Devaney, an electrical engineering professor and past chairman of the Faculty Council at the Columbia campus.
Cavalier Transfer: Virginia center Nick Vander Laan has announced that he is transferring to the west coast. Starting in 14 games for Virginia last season, Vander Laan averaged 5.3 points and 4.5 boards per game. Vander Laan is transferring to the defending NAIA national champion Concordia University in Irvine, California, where he will have one season of eligibility remaining. Vander Laan originally started college close to his Sacramento home, playing his freshman year at California in Berkeley.
Hurricane Transfer: Tulsa reserve center Aliou Keita has left the Golden Hurricane program, head coach John Phillips announced. Phillips stated that Keita plans to return to Iowa, where he played high school basketball as an exchange student from Senegal, though he has not announced a particular school that he may transfer to. Keita played in eight games, averaging 5 points per game as a freshman.
Dukes Transfer: Duquesne University has announced that junior guard Aly Samabaly has transferred to the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. Samabaly, who hails from Bamako, Mali, averaged almost 2 points and 1.5 boards per game in limited action over the past two seasons.
Tiger Out: No, not the latest golf tournament. Towson has announced that forward Stephen Warner has been ruled academically ineligible, and won’t be returning to head coach Michael Hunt’s squad this season. The 6-8 forward averaged 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last season as a freshman, including one start.
Bilikens Lose Two: Saint Louis has announced that junior forward Floyd McClain has left the team and withdrawn from the university for personal reasons. McCain, who missed most of two seasons with injuries, averaged 2 points and 1.2 rebounds his freshman season. The school also announced that Iowa Western Community College transfer guard Brandon Morris has not met academic eligibility requirements and won’t play for Brad Soderberg’s squad this season.
