Andy Katz With a (3-Point) Shot of Reason

The face of logic. More than a little bit of hoopla has been made over the last several hours about the article by He-Who-Whall-Not-Be-Laid regarding further NCAA investigation into our own Nerlens Noel.  The article was released amidst substantial evidence of actual wrongdoing by the University of North Carolina, players at multiple schools being banned from early- or pre-season tournaments, and myriad other NCAA rules grievances.  So why illuminate the Kentucky player?  The answer is simple, and obvious: Kentucky brings attention, and site hits, in an otherwise boring offseason. Andy Katz, meanwhile, takes a logical approach to the investigation in this morning's very early "3-Point Shot," and comes to a very fair conclusion.

2. Memo to any high school player: If you change schools multiple times and/or reclassify to enter school a year early then you can fully expect a thorough NCAA eligibility check. The era of trying to fool the NCAA enforcement staff into thinking that you won't get at least an extended examination is in the past. Kentucky freshman center Nerlens Noel was going to get checked, regardless of any questions about how he visited schools. But no one should be surprised, either. The NCAA enforcement arm has had its antenna up to look into all high-profile incoming freshmen, no matter what school the player decided to attend.

The reclassification issue certainly becomes a sticky wicket, and is something of a flag that signals an inevitable NCAA investigation.  That Noel is under close scrutiny so far has not really been an issue.  All indications up to this point are that he is in the clear academically, and it is really his status as a top-recruit, and not as a possible rule-breaker, that has merited this level of attention.   Bottom line is, folks can't get Kentucky's name out of their mouths, be it Sports Illustrated, CBS, or whoever.  Don't let it bother you.  It's entirely unfair, but ultimately flattering.  Andy Katz says the investigation is par for the course; I'm inclined to believe him.