If not for the "Bad Boys" of the Big Ten and their after-hour activities
(or lack of after-hour activities, like say, studying), I'm certain the Big
Ten would have been No. 1 in the land according to everyone who had anything
to say about college basketball. But the "Bad Boys" put huge scars in the
Big Ten conference's look this season in a variety of places.

Am I saying that the Big Ten is the only conference with this problem? Heck,
no. I'm sure most conferences are having the same trouble. But the Big Ten
is where I hang my hat and I can see a big difference between where the
Big Ten is this coming season and where they should have been. And the "X"
factor that transformed one situation into the other is these "Bad Boys" and
their behavior.

Am I implying that a "Bad Boy" is anybody who leaves their college program
early ... for instance, Maurice Taylor of Michigan? No. That's a major
life decision (or career decision, if you prefer), but that's not what I'm
talking about. So perhaps I should define my image of a "Bad Boy" for you.

Some "Bad Boys" just don't work or play well with others. There have been
quite a few team chemistry problems in the Big Ten over the last year. Some
of these "Bad Boys" have parted company with their teams. This isn't all the
player's fault. It takes two people to have poor chemistry. But on the other
side of the coin, you can't fully blame the coach or program either ...

Some "Bad Boys" thought they were too "bad" to study. They should've spent
more time hitting the books instead of the hardwood. Now they're Prop 48s or
partial qualifiers, resigned to spending a year on campus minus playing
basketball for the TV cameras. Or they left their college program altogether
to play ball in the dim limelight of the JUCO world. Ultimately, when it
comes to studies, the responsibility falls squarely on the student's
shoulders. It's not the coach's fault if they don't pass.

Some "Bad Boys" thought they were too "bad" to worry about the law. Or,
worse, thought they were too "bad" to get caught - the certain tell-tale sign
of a future convicted felon. As a result, some of these "Bad Boys" got
into tussles with the local constabulary (not to mention their parents and
coaches). The penalty? Worst case, prison time. Best case, a lot of grief.
Common case, suspension or dismissal from a college basketball program.

Don't be thinking I'm going to single out any Big Ten program either - almost
all the Big Ten teams harbor some sort of "Bad Boy" behavior. Doubt me?
Let's take a look at the Big Ten in alphabetical order and then talk some
more about it.

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Illinois

List of Bad Boys:

Bryant Notree Wing Forward
Halim Abdullah Point Guard
Corey Bradford Point Guard
Marcus Griffin Center
Leighton Nash JUCO Power Forward

Bryant Notree
Bad Boy Trouble: Grades and Attitude

Story: Head Coach Lon Kruger didn't feel Notree was getting the job done
in his classes. He told Notree to take a red-shirt this season and work on
his grades or else he'd be dismissed from the program. Notree was at first
upset by this decision, but then seemed to fall into line. A few months
later, he'd transferred out of Illinois (to the University of Illinois at
Chicago, I believe).

Result: Kruger is out an experienced forward but has an added scholarship slot.

Consequences: Notree is playing outside the Big Ten and still has to wait a
season to begin playing again.

@

Halim Abdullah
Bad Boy Trouble: The Law and Attitude

Story: Halim was dismissed from the program by coach Kruger. I'm not sure
of any official reason, if any were given, for the dismissal. At the time,
I assumed it was a case of too much attitude and not enough hard work. A
few months later, I hear Halim is facing legal charges involving drugs.

Result: Illinois, already low on point guards, are looking anemic at that
position. According to my information, it looks like Kevin Turner and Matt
Heldman will have to play point this season.

Consequences: Halim is possibly looking at a drug charge. Does anything else,
including basketball, really matter at this time?

@

Corey Bradford
Bad Boy Trouble: Grades

Story: Bradford didn't make the cut academically to play this year. However,
he did partially qualify so he will be able to practice with the team.

Result: Kruger gets to coach a great point guard during practices. A shame he
can't use him in the tough games the Illini will be having this season.

Consequences: Bradford is out a year of eligibility. If I were him, I'd double
up on the course load and study hours and get ready for next year. Take care
of business now so you can take care of business later.

@

Marcus Griffin
Bad Boy Trouble: Grades

Story: Old story. Blue Chip Center doesn't make the entrance qualifications
for college and has to go to junior college.

Result: Kruger loses a very good center that his team could really use.

Consequence: Griffin is out of Division I ball for probably two seasons. If
he gets the classroom situation taken care of ... who knows?

@

Leighton Nash
Bad Boy Trouble: Grades

Story: JUCO Transfer doesn't meet the college entrance requirements.

Result: Nash transfers somewhere that does meet the requirements and bids
Illinois good-bye. Kruger says good-bye to yet another big guy his team
really needs.

Consequence: Nash is out of a school that would have given him a lot of
television exposure and a chance to make an impression with the NBA scouts.
And Nash only has two years of eligibility left on his dance card.

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Indiana

List of Bad Boys:

Neil Reed Point Guard
Brent Klassen Wing Forward
Antwaan Randle El Point Guard
Levron Williams Shooting Guard

Neil Reed
Bad Boy Trouble: Attitude

Story: Coach Knight and his team agreed that Reed was a problem and Reed
left. Regardless of which camp you side with (and I'm not going to get into
this one), most people will agree that there was a team chemistry problem,
if not an attitude problem, with the IU team last season. Knight and
company feel Reed's departure will help fix the problem. Time will tell.

Result: Coach Knight loses a point guard who, if I'm not mistaken, was a
McDonalds All-American. The highly-stocked Hoosiers can't despair though. They
still have a fairly well-known guy, A.J. Guyton, who's been known to handle
point every now and then ...

Consequences: Reed transferred to Southern Mississippi (USA Conference) where
his father coaches. He'll have to sit out this year, though.

@

Brent Klassen
Bad Boy Trouble: Grades

Story: Offered a scholarship by the Hoosiers this spring, he didn't make
the grades. He's going to prep school this year, and then he's expected to
come to IU on scholarship next fall.

Result: Klassen wasn't expected to make an impact at IU this year anyway.
But with Charlie Miller, Robbie Eggers, Richard Mandeville, and Andrae
atterson all graduating this season, wouldn't it have been nice for Klassen
to learn some tricks from them before they left?

Consequences: Klassen gets to buckle down on his studies for a year before
starting college. Not a bad thing, if Klassen is patient enough to wait for
his turn to play.

@

Antwaan Randle El
Bad Boy Trouble: Grades

Story: Only had the grades for a partial qualifier, meaning he can practice
with his team but not play in any of the games.

Result: Antwaan was only a walk-on for the basketball team, but he's a point
guard. With Reed gone, Antwaan would have made a nice back-up. Antwaan is
a scholarship player for the IU football team though. A Quarterback. Have
you seen the IU football team lately? They could've used him ...

Consequences: Antwaan gets the opportunity to learn and prove himself, both
on the field and in the classroom. But he doesn't get to do anything but
cheer from the bleachers during game time this year.

@

Levron Williams
Bad Boy Trouble: Grades

Story: Levron wasn't even a partial qualifier. I lost track of him in the news.
I'm not even certain he ended up attending IU.

Result: Levron was only a walk-on for the basketball team. But he was on a
football scholarship. Coach Cameron could have used him.

Consequences: Levron may be out more than a scholarship. He might be out an
an education.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Iowa

List of Bad Boys:

Jeff Walker Shooting Guard

Jeff Walker
Bad Boy Trouble: Grades

Story: The Top 25 prospect was ineligible last season (his freshman season)
for activities I'm not going to get into. This season he was found
ineligible academically.

Result: Dr. Tom loses a prized basketball talent. However, how useful is a
basketball talent who never becomes eligible? It doesn't take a mystic for a
college coach to answer that question ...

Consequences: Walker transfers to a JUCO, where he might get another chance
at Div. I in two years time.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Michigan

List of Bad Boys:

Brandun Hughes Point Guard
Dionte Harvey Recruit, I believe he was a guard
Michigan Program As a whole

Brandun Hughes
Bad Boy Trouble: Attitude

Story: Fisher dismissed the point guard this spring, citing his attitude.

Result: Michigan already has a thin roster. Including new transfer point
guard Robbie Reid, Michigan has three scholarship players in their backcourt
(Bullock and Conlan). If the backcourt gets into foul trouble, Hughes is one
less person who can help the Wolverines out.

Consequences: Hughes, a JUCO with one year of eligibility left, is a play=
er without a team (to my knowledge). No college diploma either ...

@

Dionte Harvey
Bad Boy Trouble: The Law

Story: He was recruited and offered a scholarship by Michigan. Once it was
discovered by the media that Harvey had a criminal record, Michigan took
the scholarship back.

Result: Michigan loses a player that they evidently wanted, if it wasn't
for his criminal history.

Consequences: To my knowledge, Hughes isn't in Div. I ball.

@

Michigan Program
Bad Boy Trouble: The Law (NCAA rules) and Attitude

Story: The allegations are legion and spread back to before Fisher's head
coach ascension in 1989. More and more evidence crops up from the media by
the month. Suffice it to say that there have been violations (ruled upon
by the NCAA and then admitted by Michigan). There's also reason to believe
this barrage may not be over yet.

Result: I'm tempted to say Steve Fisher's firing is a result of this. However,
the Michigan administration has gone on record saying that the NCAA findings
had nothing to do with it. Fisher seems to be of a different opinion. I'm
not going to get into it ...

One obvious result of all of this is a bad atmosphere for the Michigan program.
The fans are unhappy. The administration is facing pressure from all sides.
A head coach has yet to be found, as of Oct. 23rd, and games are starting
pretty soon. Michigan star center Robert Traylor is so disgruntled and
disappointed by the events this summer and fall that he was quoted as
saying he wished he would've stayed in the NBA draft. I don't know about you,
but I would find it difficult to keep my head on the game with all this
all this turmoil going on around me.

(NOTE: Michigan named assistant Ellerbe as interim head coach on October 24.)

Consequences: For better or worse, the Michigan program has been changed.
Major personnel have moved in and out. I'm not sure if formal Michigan policy
has changed (or needs to be), but it seems like attitudes within the
organization have done a "front and center" to tackle the issue. Now that
Michigan has gained the NCAA's attention; they have even more reason to make
certain everything is done according to the rules.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Michigan State

List of Bad Boys:

None that I've heard of. My Michigan State sources aren't what they should
be though.

Story: Michigan State continues to impress me by staying out of the newspaper
headlines. Sometimes, no press is a good thing ...

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Minnesota

List of Bad Boys:

Charles Thomas Shooting Guard
Kevin Loge Center
Courtney James Power Forward

Charles Thomas
Bad Boy Trouble: Attitude???

Story: Charles Thomas, certain to be a starter this year, transfers to Eastern
Kentucky. I never did find a reason why in the news. Was he homesick? Was he
tired of Minnesota? Didn't have faith in the program after Jackson and
company left? I don't know. One thing I do know is that Thomas didn't do
Minnesota any favors.

Result: Coach Haskins loses one of his key bench players from last season,
along with three of his starters.

Consequences: Do you want to calculate the chances Eastern Kentucky will
have to reach the Final Four while Thomas is there? Puzzling behavior aside,
I really don't know if Thomas qualifies as a "Bad Boy" or not ... but I
hope he finds whatever he left Minnesota for. He sure gave up a lot to get
get it.

@

Kevin Loge
Bad Boy Trouble: Attitude???

Story: Kevin Loge, a red-shirt freshman center, decides to transfer to a
smaller school because he didn't feel comfortable with a big program like
Minnesota. At least I believe that's the way the media phrased his words ...

Result: Coach Haskins loses a top choice for a starter this season and loses
all the time and effort he spent on Loge last year to prepare him for the
Big Ten. Now Haskins is looking at a red-shirt freshman, who may be injured
this season, and a true freshman for the closest people he has to a center.
The next choice is either Miles Tarver or Quincy Lewis for center. And if
you're not wincing from that image, then you must not follow Minnesota
basketball much ...

Consequences: Depending on the scholarship rules, Loge may lose a year of
eligibility and not play one game of college ball until he's a junior in
college.

@

Courtney James
Bad Boy Trouble: The Law

Story: Courtney James is found guilty of assault (with intent to cause fear
only) in a court case involving himself, a female acquaintance of his (or
girlfriend, depending on whose account you listen to) and a telephone book
(or address book, depending on whose account you listen to). After the
finding, the University of Minnesota suspended Courtney James indefinitely,
pending an internal investigation into the matter. Some weeks later,
Courtney James decided to leave the program.

Result: Haskins is out a starter. Again.

Consequences: James is out of college, last I heard, without a diploma. I
believe he intends to see what the CBA or the European BB teams have in
store for him ...

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Northwestern

List of Bad Boys:

Carvell Ammons Power Forward
Geno Carlisle Shooting Guard

Carvell Ammons
Bad Boy Trouble: Attitude

Story: My Northwestern sources aren't the best either. But I believe Ammons
was more than disappointed that the Northwestern administration fired
former coach Ricky Byrdsong. Rather than give Kevin O'Neill a chance, he
left. I believe this is a case of irreconcilable differences between Ammons
and the Northwestern administration.

Result: Northwestern loses a good starter. Barring losing Evan Eschmeyer
or being put on probation by the NCAA, this is about as bad as it could get
for Northwestern.

Consequences: Ammons transferred to Illinois, where he will walk-on. So, =
Ammons gets to stay in the Big Ten. But he doesn't get to play this seaso=
n and he loses the benefits of a scholarship. For Ammons, this was the mo=
st acceptable avenue after Byrdsong was fired.

@

Geno Carlisle
Bad Boy Trouble: Attitude

Story: There was friction between Carlisle and Byrdsong (or Northwestern
in general) at the beginning of last season. Carlisle was suspended for a
few weeks (I believe). Carlisle decided to transfer.

Result: Northwestern lost an All-Big Ten selection, which crippled their
chances at building something last season. That might have been the last
nail in Byrdsong's coffin. And his firing may have been a direct cause for
Carvell Ammons leaving. See where this is going? Northwestern was building
momentum, but in the wrong direction.

Consequences: Carlisle had to sit out last year, but now he's ready to play
this year at California. He may still have a shot for the NBA ... but he's
running out of time to remind the scouts that he's still in the game.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Ohio State

List of Bad Boys:

Ed Jenkins JUCO Center
Ken Johnson Center
Damon Stringer Combo Guard
Trent Jackson Shooting Guard
Shaun Stonerook Power Forward/ Point Guard
Jon Sanderson Forward

Ed Jenkins
Bad Boy Trouble: Grades

Story: As a JUCO junior, Jenkins didn't make the grades to be fully eligible
to play last season. He didn't make the grades for this season either. So he
left Ohio State. He never played a second in any Ohio State game.

Result: Ayers needed a presence inside. Jenkins might have provided it had he
worked and gotten the grades where they needed to be.

Consequences: Ohio State gets no productivity out of Jenkins. Jenkins gets
no productivity out of Ohio State. Hardly a match made in heaven ...

@

Ken Johnson
Bad Boy Trouble: Grades

Story: Don't know him? Maybe that's because he was a Prop 48 last season
at Ohio State. Last I heard, though, he did make the grades for this season.

Result: Ayers lost the use of another center he needed badly. Johnson might
ht have provided the little extra push Ohio State needed last year to get
over the hump, and, possibly, keep Ayers as Ohio State head coach. But that
didn't happen.

Consequences: Johnson lost a year of eligibility and now plays for a coach
that didn't recruit him. Hardly the best of situations ...

@

Damon Stringer
Bad Boy Trouble: The Law

Story: Damon Stringer and Trent Jackson were in an altercation with police
officials outside a drinking establishment one night. Charges put against
them were disorderly conduct and resisting a police officer.

Result: New OSU coach O'Brien had a talk with Stringer and stripped him of
team captain status for this coming season. That honor now belongs to guard
NeShaun Coleman.

Consequences: Stringer probably got scared a little, both from the police
and his new coach. And he lost his captain status. But he still gets to play.

@

Trent Jackson
Bad Boy Trouble: The Law

Story: Evidently, Trent Jackson's participation in the altercation was a
little more severe. O'Brien kicked Jackson off the team.

Result: O'Brien is out a back-up guard.

Consequences: Jackson may be off the team permanently, or just for this season.
I don't know if he's remained on campus or not.

@

Shaun Stonerook
Bad Boy Trouble: Grades

Story: Old story. He didn't make the grades and is ineligible to play this
season.

Result: O'Brien loses one of his team's most productive players.

Consequences: Stonerook loses a year of eligibility and he has to hit the
books if he wants to qualify for next year. I assume he's stayed on campus
and wants to be a part of O'Brien's team. I could be wrong about that.

@

Jon Sanderson
Bad Boy Trouble: The Law

Story: This OSU forward recruit visited the University of Dayton campus and
got into a tussle with some cops, near a drinking establishment. Sanderson
was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and assaulting a
police officer. Sanderson's lawyer told the press that Sanderson's "attack"
was more of a stumble that the policeman misinterpreted. Ahem ...

Result: O'Brien had a talk with Sanderson but to my knowledge he was not
suspended or penalized by OSU. O'Brien went on record saying that Sanderson
was aware of how disappointed he had made O'Brien and OSU in general.

Consequences: Sanderson starts out his relationship with his new college
coach in one of the worst ways possible. There may also be legal repercussions
to what happened.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Penn State

List of Bad Boys:

Ryan Bailey Point Guard

Ryan Bailey
Bad Boy Trouble: Attitude

Story: I doubt I have the whole story. Bailey played a lot of guard time
last year. But now Penn State has Titus Ivory, a red-shirt freshman guard,
and the now-healthy senior point guard, Danny Earl. Add two more freshman
guards, Joe Crispin and Greg Grays, and I guess Bailey didn't like what it
added up to. He decided to transfer.

Result: Penn State still has a great backcourt but after Dan Earl and Pete
Lisicky, the guards get very lean on college game experience. Bailey also
averaged 4.2 apg last season for Penn State, which is almost (not quite)
the total assist output for the rest of the team last season. Of course,
Dan Earl didn't play last season due to injury.

Consequences: Bailey has transferred to UCLA; where he can be with his older
brother, Toby Bailey, for Toby's last year. I believe Ryan will walk-on;
so he'll lose his scholarship advantages.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Purdue

List of Bad Boys:

Mike Robinson Small Forward
Gary McQuay Power Forward
Cameron Stephens Wing Forward
Jamaal Davis Power Forward

Mike Robinson
Bad Boy Trouble: The Law

Story: Robinson and McQuay shoplifted a few CDs last fall. They atoned by
paying for the merchandise, doing community service, being suspended for a
few games, and getting a hellish work-out- compliments of the displeased
Keady. Keady also assured the two of them that if they ever committed a
wrong of this magnitude again, they would be out of his program forever.
Oh, and Robinson also lost his starting position on the team for about two
weeks (McQuay was never a regular starter).

Just when the dust settled this spring, Robinson was discovered having an
illegally obtained university parking sticker. Robinson didn't steal it
(it was given to him), but he knew that freshmen weren't allowed to have
them. Robinson paid for this minor transgression with more community service.

Result: Keady's got a long memory and he doesn't have much tolerance for
kids who do stupid things. It's not in his nature. But young kids DO make
mistakes and they deserve a second chance. I'm not sure Keady's philosophy
agrees with third chances though.

Consequences: Robinson's on thin ice. If he doesn't mature and straighten
up, he may force Keady to live up to his promise.

@

Gary McQuay
Bad Boy Trouble: The Law

Story: The shoplifting incident mentioned up there in Mike Robinson's story.
Since last fall, McQuay seems to have done a nice job following the laws
and regulations of both the Purdue program and the codes of West Lafayette.

Result: See the section for Mike Robinson.

Consequences: McQuay's been out of the doghouse for awhile. I think Gary's
working hard to make sure he doesn't end up there again. It's dark and
scary in there ...

@

Cameron Stephens
Bad Boy Trouble: Grades

Story: Didn't make the academic requirements to play basketball and became
Prop 48. He is an enrolled Purdue student. A combined request was made by
Purdue and Stephen's high school to the NCAA to reconsider his situation.
Stephens was close to making the minimum score needed to be at least
partially-qualified. However, a few high school courses Stephens took were
not accepted by the NCAA as core classes (which they should have been).
Upon reconsideration, the NCAA agreed and Stephens' scores were raised,
but they still weren't quite enough. Purdue filed a special circumstance
plea with the NCAA over Stephens' entrance scores. See, Stephens' grand-
parents (whom Stephens lived with) both died over a month's period during
Stephens' last semester in school. His grades dropped over that time, for
obvious reasons. Purdue argued that had Stephens' scores followed the course
they would have had Stephens' grandparents not passed away, that Stephens'
scores would be high enough to allow him to play. After consideration,
the NCAA refused the request. Stephens remains a Prop 48.

Result: Keady loses the opportunity to have a Top 50 recruit practice, let
alone play, with his team. With Brad Miller, Brian Cardinal and Mike
Robinson, Purdue doesn't have any holes to fill in their frontcourt. But Purdue
is seriously lacking depth in the frontcourt. If one of Purdue's frontcourt
players are injured or unable to play, Purdue has few options open to them.

Consequences: Stephens can't play college basketball this year. He loses
a year of eligibility. And he has to hit the books hard this year if he wants
to be eligible to play for Purdue next year.

@

Jamaal Davis
Bad Boy Trouble: The Law and Grades

Story: Davis didn't have the grades to be eligible to play. Furthermore,
he was in a car accident on an interstate that injured both himself and
another driver. Both Davis and the man recovered from their injuries, but
Davis is still facing legal charges as a result of the accident, including
a felony charge of criminal recklessness. The other driver is also suing
Davis for the money to pay his hospital bills. Davis is enrolled at Purdue
as a Prop 48.

Result: Keady loses another Top 100 recruit that can play on his team this
season. Davis was another person that could be seriously needed on the
Purdue team if something happens to Purdue's frontcourt this season. But
it's not an option open to Keady now.

Consequences: Davis can't play college basketball this year. He loses a
year of eligibility. He still has that court case waiting for him this
winter. Davis has to hit the books hard if he, like his friend Stephens,
wants to be eligible to play for Purdue next year. But, unlike Stephens,
Davis also has the obstacle of overcoming his injuries. Though Davis is
fortunate to be alive after his car accident, let alone to play basketball;
Davis is far from being in basketball shape. Since his accident, he has
lost 30 pounds on his 6-10 frame.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Wisconsin

List of Bad Boys:

Mosezell Peterson Forward
Sam Okey Small Forward

Mosezell Peterson
Bad Boy Trouble: Attitude

Story: Mosezell Peterson transferred. I don't know if any official reason
was given. One Wisconsin fan I talked to thought it was possibly because
Mosezell didn't believe he'd get much playing time with all the new forward
recruits coming in. Both of them might be right.

Result: Bennett loses an experienced forward. But Bennett just recruited
four other forwards. Surely, he can find someone in the crowd to replace
Peterson.

Consequences: Peterson transfers to Louisville and is forced to sit out a
season. If he gets more playing time at Louisville, perhaps he made the
right decision for himself.

@

Sam Okey
Bad Boy Trouble: Attitude

Story: Coach Bennett announced the week of October 19th that Sam Okey would
be suspended from two weeks of practice and the first four Badger games
(two are exhibition games) of the season for an unnamed transgression
gainst team policy. Although the media has attempted to find the reason for
or the suspension (one paper claimed Okey smoked marijuana), Bennett has
assured the media that nothing Okey did broke any laws or NCAA rules - that
it was merely something he wouldn't announce to the public. Bennett, the
Wisconsin AD, and the other two Badger captains are all telling the same
story. So I side with Bennett's version over the media's (big surprise...).
Evidently, whatever Okey did was an attitude problem.

Result: Bennett loses his star player against Illinois State (which some
say is a Top 25 team this year). The Missouri Valley conference just ain't
what she used to be ...

Consequences: Okey loses the opportunity to play in some games. But if he
gets his head screwed on tight, it'll probably be worth it for him in the
long run.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Okay. Take a deep breath ...

Now forget the stories or reasons for what happened. That was just to feed
you some information you might want and to show you I'm not making this
stuff up.

I've talked about 30 players from around the Big Ten conference. 24 of these
players are unable to officially play for their Big Ten team this season.
28 of these 30 were scholarship players. Keeping in mind that a college team
is only allowed 13 scholarships - that's more scholarships than any two
Big Ten teams can have, total. That's about 20% of all available Big Ten
scholarships.

That's a LOT of "Bad Boys".

Now consider that half of these 28 scholarship players (that's 14, in case
you're reading this early in the morning) transferred out of, or quit,
the Big Ten conference.

What may surprise more of you is that grades don't seem to be the major
problem. Only 10 of the 30 players were forced off a team because of grades.
And to my knowledge, 6 of those 10 players fully intend to stay on campus
and become eligible for next year.

The big problem with this turnover seems to be attitude. Either the player's
attitude with his coach, with his basketball team, or his attitude off
the court (particularly when it deals with respecting the law). And most of
of these "bad" players have left the Big Ten.

There's not much a coach or a Big Ten program can do to change a player's
attitude. Advice, persuasion, and reprimands rarely work on a player who's
decided not to listen. Unfortunately, it seems like the "Bad Boys" are the
the ones who pay most for their attitude. They end up out of a program, cutting
themselves off both from a possible avenue into the NBA and a valuable college
education from a Big Ten institution.

All we Big Ten Basketball fans lose are some opportunities to see some
great athletic achievements. And maybe our favorite Big Ten club loses some
potential to excel even further in their game.

But I think it's obvious that it's the "Bad Boys" who really lose out in this
deal, in every possible way.

So I still say that the Big Ten would have been the best basketball
conference in the country this season if only these "Bad Boys" hadn't been
quite so bad. I'll even go out on a limb and say, from top to bottom, this
could have been the best year of Big Ten Basketball we've seen in many, many
years.

But the Big Ten conference will never reach its full potential in basketball
until the "Bad Boys" wise up. They need to spend less time being "bad",
and working up their attitude. They need to spend more time doing their
classwork and working to excel, as a team, on the basketball court.

They shouldn't do it for the Big Ten fans. They sure shouldn't do it for me.
I don't even exist ...

They should do it for themselves.

@

That's all I have to say. This is just my opinion. I could be wrong. It HAS
happened before. If you have comments or questions, you know where to find
me.

Later,

Rufus Talladega