Bobby Knight has shared his opinion on Kentucky basketball yet again, this time taking aim at the university’s former players. In voicing his displeasure for the one and done rule, the outspoken coaching legend cited the Kentucky class that featured the NBA’s 2010 overall number one pick John Wall.
“Kentucky, year before last started five players in the NCAA tournament games that had not been to class that semester. That’s that one and done philosophy.”
Knight’s disdain for the one and done rule as well as Kentucky head coach John Calipari has been well chronicled and proven to easily get a print worthy quote from him in the past. Knight previously chided Calipari in a speech at a fundraiser in discussing college basketball’s lack of integrity in 2009. Rather than sit back and let Knight continue his attacks on the Kentucky basketball family, UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart had the following to say:
“The University of Kentucky, our student-athletes and their families take great offense to the blatantly erroneous comments made by Bob Knight that ‘Kentucky, year before last, started five players in the NCAA Tournament games that had not been to class that semester.”
Whether he’s right or wrong in his assumption, Knight has obviously let his dislike for Calipari cloud his judgment. Considering former Wildcat and current Houston Rocket Patrick Patterson spent three years at Kentucky, graduating within that time would make Knight wrong in this case. It’s highly unlikely, but it would be better served if Knight’s thoughts on a program remained impartial considering his current position at ESPN pays him to do so.
