UK Denied Joe B. From Coaching Says NCAA

Updated: 7:24 AM ET Sun, Jul. 31, 2011

NCAA: Don't blame us for denying Joe B.
UK pulled out of exhibition game, it says
By John Clay / jclay@herald-leader.com

The NCAA released a statement Saturday saying it never said no to Joe B. Hall.

On its Web site, the Indianapolis body issued a statement saying that it was the University of Kentucky's decision that the former UK coach should not coach a group of former Kentucky basketball stars who will play the Dominican Republic National Team in an exhibition game in Rupp Arena on Aug. 15.

"Public speculation, fueled by inaccurate media reporting, incorrectly assumed the NCAA denied former Kentucky coach Joe B. Hall the opportunity to coach in an exhibition game against the Dominican Republic," said the statement.

"In reality, the University of Kentucky withdrew its involvement and association with this event due to a conflict with member mandated NCAA bylaws. These bylaws prohibit member schools from participating in events that pay former players and raise funds to benefit teams that include prospective student-athletes."

UK Coach John Calipari, who is coaching the Dominican Republic National Team, said on his Twitter account Wednesday night that Hall and ex-UK star Sam Bowie would be coaching the Kentucky Pros.

But Thursday night, news leaked that Hall was not being allowed to coach the team.

UK Associate Athletics Director DeWayne Peevy, who was hired by game promoter ProCamps to handle media credentials for the event, said in an email, "The University of Kentucky cannot have any affiliation with the event, therefore no former players or coaches will be honorary coaches."

Media reports speculated that the NCAA had ruled on the matter, but Hall said Friday night that he could not get an answer from UK or the NCAA about who or what was behind the ruling.

Meanwhile, as Kentucky fans took to the Internet to voice their displeasure with the NCAA over the Hall ruling, UK remained silent on the matter.

Then Saturday, the NCAA made its statement saying UK denied Hall in its effort to follow the organization's bylaws.
UK did not have an immediate response to the NCAA's statement.


Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/07/31/1829763/ncaa-dont-blame-us-for-denying.html#ixzz1To1PsHxE

Well, if UK said no in order to avoid violating NCAA rules, isn't it more like saying "We shouldn't have to tell him no"?

Anyway, you can argue that this event has no affiliation with the University of Kentucky to begin with, other than that they're utilizing the facility in which their college basketball games are being played.

If you notice, in years past schools used to play exhibition games against All Star teams with names like Marathon Oil. These games now violate NCAA rules so instead they schedule games against DII or DIII schools. Not sure why this particular game would fall under that rule unless it's because Cal is coaching in it.