The Official Olivier Sarr Thread (UPDATE: NCAA Rules Sarr Eligible, SEC Hasn't Yet)

[catfaninin]

This sounds like good news...but I don't 100% trust Vitale. I love the guy but he can be a bit erratic. Seems like he's blurted out stuff on Twitter that's been wrong before.

Agreed. But Larry Vaught says he has heard the same thing.

[justford]

If true, will the SEC make an exception or enforce the rule? Tough call.

[GOCAT15]

How awful would this be if we get the ok from the good ol NCAA only to have the SEC say "No"?

[Joneslab]

The Herald-Leader confirms Vitale's report. Sarr has been ruled eligible by the NCAA but UK is awaiting word from the SEC.

https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article245945170.html

[Joneslab]

Interesting: Kyle Tucker says on Twitter that he knows of at least one SEC coach who has been "banging the drum" against Sarr's eligibility. I'm going to guess Bruce Pearl.

Would be VERY odd for the SEC to take on its flagship school and go against the NCAA's ruling. But the fact that this is possibly gone on two months with the SEC not making a ruling is very strange.

[Lighthouse]

The intent of improving the simple game of basketball has become a very frustrating experience.

[SCBlu]

Did I miss something, or is this the first time the SEC rule has even been mentioned regarding Saar's eligibility status?

[Dwight Schrute]

Interesting: Kyle Tucker says on Twitter that he knows of at least one SEC coach who has been "banging the drum" against Sarr's eligibility. I'm going to guess Bruce Pearl.

Would be VERY odd for the SEC to take on its flagship school and go against the NCAA's ruling. But the fact that this is possibly gone on two months with the SEC not making a ruling is very strange.

Is there an argument against his eligibility or is (presumably) Bruce Pearl just being a douche?

[Joneslab]

Is there an argument against his eligibility or is (presumably) Bruce Pearl just being a douche?

I haven't read too much about this but if the SEC is legitimately holding on their ruling, I would imagine there's some precedent here where a player wasn't granted a waiver by the league for the same reason Sarr is seeking a waiver. I mean I know Pearl is sort of a wild man but if I were to guess I'd say he's referring to a specific situation where a player was turned down and saying, "How can we grant Sarr eligibility when this other player wasn't?"

[Pobilly]

Look we might be the BRAND of SEC Basketball but we will always be the red headed step child of the SEC. No matter the sport we tend to end up on the short end of the stick when it comes to SEC Rulings. Most in the south do not even view KENTUCKY as Southern, they look more at Virginia as from the south. Do not know why except this goes back to the civil war times and such.

[justford]

Curious as to why it took the NCAA so long to tell that they had approved the waiver??

[KCKUKFan]

Curious as to why it took the NCAA so long to tell that they had approved the waiver??

I don't think the NCAA actually ever released any statement about his being cleared. It was just sort of leaked by Dickie V and confirmed by other outlets.

I think UK was probably waiting for the SEC to stamp the final approval before releasing a formal announcement.

[Los Gatos]

Curious as to why it took the NCAA so long to tell that they had approved the waiver??

The NCAA just informs the school. Far as I know, they never announce a waiver has been approved.

[Pobilly]

So hearing arguments if the NCAA passes the ruling for winter sports like they did for Spring and Fall that all athletes do not burn a year of eligibility this year then SARR has 2 years and the SEC commissioner has not say in the matter.

You would think that if Spring 2020 and fall of 2020 has this rule then winter 2020/21 would have the same rule.

What say you?

[Pobilly]

SEC commissioner playing the waiting game to see what NCAA says about winter sports. My guess.