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

[justford]

If the SEC rule is in fact valid, did the UK people not know about it? What would UK’s argument be to make an exception for Sarr?

[Los Gatos]

If the SEC rule is in fact valid, did the UK people not know about it? What would UK’s argument be to make an exception for Sarr?

Don't have any idea what UK could argue to make an exception. As for, did UK know about the rule, it's been on the books for years. I have to assume they knew about the rule.

[Joneslab]

I'm sure UK knew but I definitely didn't.

It's a bizarre rule that should never have been on the books. If you can take grad transfers for a year then you should be able to take undergrad transfers. Makes no sense.

However, the problem is if other players had been hit by it in the past. If that's the case then waiving it for Sarr is obviously unfair.

[Joneslab]

Also, a weird thing is the delay that's going on right now.

If the transfer is against the rules, then just flatly deny eligibility. That the SEC seems to be hedging suggests Kentucky is making a case...and really what could the case be other than the one they already brought to the NCAA? There's no other information they could offer to the league.

The SEC appears to be listening or they'd just rule him ineligible. Hard to imagine with a UK player they just wouldn't rule at all one way or the other and let Sarr sit. The SEC wouldn't want to enrage the very fans it counts on like that.

So something is creating this delay. Which suggests either (1) the SEC wants to waive the rule and is trying to figure out how to do it and not create a crapstorm with other league coaches; or (2) as the other poster said, the league is hoping to remain mum and let COVID wash the season away so they don't have to rule.

[Los Gatos]

Also, a weird thing is the delay that's going on right now.

If the transfer is against the rules, then just flatly deny eligibility. That the SEC seems to be hedging suggests Kentucky is making a case...and really what could the case be other than the one they already brought to the NCAA? There's no other information they could offer to the league.

The SEC appears to be listening or they'd just rule him ineligible. Hard to imagine with a UK player they just wouldn't rule at all one way or the other and let Sarr sit. The SEC wouldn't want to enrage the very fans it counts on like that.

So something is creating this delay. Which suggests either (1) the SEC wants to waive the rule and is trying to figure out how to do it and not create a crapstorm with other league coaches; or (2) as the other poster said, the league is hoping to remain mum and let COVID wash the season away so they don't have to rule.

I suspect it's the latter.

[Joneslab]

The men's basketball steering committee will meet today and vote on whether to give players another year of eligibility after this season like they've done in football.

That's what the SEC is waiting on. If the rule is voted through, which I assume it will be, then Sarr should be eligible. Maybe by today.

[Joneslab]

The men's basketball steering committee will meet today and vote on whether to give players another year of eligibility after this season like they've done in football.

That's what the SEC is waiting on. If the rule is voted through, which I assume it will be, then Sarr should be eligible. Maybe by today.

Actually, check this. Today they will only give a recommendation. The NCAA at large will vote on it on a later date (not sure when).

So Sarr likely won't be eligible today.

[Joneslab]

Sarr isn't the only player we're waiting on. Jon Hale says that UK has also applied for a waiver for Jacob Toppin, maybe the most-forgotten Wildcat of all time.

Don't think Toppin could help that much this year but has some upside for down the road.

[George]

The NCAA approved an additional year of eligibility for winter athletes. If this was what Sankey was waiting for, there should be nothing standing in the way of Sarr’s eligibility.

[Matt Dillon]

The NCAA approved an additional year of eligibility for winter athletes. If this was what Sankey was waiting for, there should be nothing standing in the way of Sarr’s eligibility.

I believe it's eff. 2021. Does that mean Sarr won't be eligible until Jan.?

[Joneslab]

I believe it's eff. 2021. Does that mean Sarr won't be eligible until Jan.?

Where did you see this? I can't find any articles about it because apparently it isn't fully done yet but should be official today.

If it's true it isn't effective until 2021, then that could simply mean that the extra year of eligibility kicks in in 2021. Otherwise I'm not really sure what "effective 2021" could mean with this particular rule.

[Los Gatos]

The NCAA approved an additional year of eligibility for winter athletes. If this was what Sankey was waiting for, there should be nothing standing in the way of Sarr’s eligibility.

https://kentuckysportsradio.com/basketball-2/ncaa-di-council-votes-in-favor-of-additional-year-of-eligibility-for-winter-athletes/

[justford]

Where did you see this? I can't find any articles about it because apparently it isn't fully done yet but should be official today.

If it's true it isn't effective until 2021, then that could simply mean that the extra year of eligibility kicks in in 2021. Otherwise I'm not really sure what "effective 2021" could mean with this particular rule.

Maybe people are confusing the one time transfer rule with the waiver rule??

[Jload]

Why is it taking so long, this isn’t engineering a rocket for interstellar flight. How hard is it to review a file and make a stinking decision. Why doesn’t UK ,especially Barnhart do a little arm twisting in the league office and GET THIS DONE. Does anybody believe if this were Alabama and this was a football issue it wouldn’t be resolved by now. UK is it’s equivalent in basketball, so why aren’t we demanding similar respect, and don’t tell me about rules, that has never mattered to league when dealing with its football elite.

[Joneslab]

Why is it taking so long, this isn’t engineering a rocket for interstellar flight. How hard is it to review a file and make a stinking decision. Why doesn’t UK ,especially Barnhart do a little arm twisting in the league office and GET THIS DONE. Does anybody believe if this were Alabama and this was a football issue it wouldn’t be resolved by now. UK is it’s equivalent in basketball, so why aren’t we demanding similar respect, and don’t tell me about rules, that has never mattered to league when dealing with its football elite.

The extra-year rule hasn't been fully adopted yet. Happening today.