Weekend Quickies: UofL Fiasco Edition

On Thursday night, Governor Matt Bevin announced he would have an important press conference on Friday at 10:00 AM. Many speculated as to what that announcement may be, but almost no one thought it would be the resignation of UofL President James and the dissolving of the entire board.

There has been discontent among the board members, students, faculty, and even UofL sports fans for quite some time over a litany of issues. The FBI is investigating a number of shady dealings within the Ramsey administration and of course the decision by him (allegedly) to blow up the men's basketball postseason in response to the prostitute scandal that has rocked the campus are just a few of the missteps by the president. Here is a timeline of the scandals under his administration and it is a long one.

Whether or not one agrees with the way Bevin handled the situation, and there are questions as to if he can even legally fire the entire board and restructure it, the UofL administration needed a change. Ramsey did a great deal of good there, but let's not put lipstick on a pig: the dude was dirty and the university is paying for and will continue to pay for his sins.

As for the athletic department, that's another problem that the new leadership will have to deal with when the time comes. Tom Jurich operated under Ramsey without any checks and balances, which is good and bad. He has done more for UofL athletics than any AD in history, but he has thumbed his nose at convention and has presided over and ignored multiple scandals. He throws money around like he owns a cash machine, a large part of that because the athletic department still takes money from the university. It's not self-sustaining like most major universities even though it is entirely capable of being self-sustaining.

With this new development and the NCAA notice of allegations looming in the wings, it's going to be a long summer for the University of Louisville and it's fans. No matter what "negatives" you can find about UK, they don't hold a candle to the dumpster fire that is UofL.

And now, your Quickies!

Tweets of the Day

ESPN NBA Draft analyst Chad Ford said if his kid was an elite prospect he would send him to Kentucky.

— CoachCal.com (@CoachCalDotCom) June 17, 2016

If only Ben Simmons, Malik Newman, Stephen Zimmerman, and Jaylen Brown had talked to Chad Ford.

.@GovMattBevin says he has not spoken with UofL basketball Coach Rick Pitino. "The athletic side has not driven my concerns."

— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) June 17, 2016

Why would Pitino be consulted about anything?

Greenberg on Foundation: "The days of secret compensation packages, hush $, self-serving advertisements and unnecessary buildings must end"

— Joe Sonka (@joesonka) June 17, 2016

Craig Greenberg is a former member of the board. Yikes.

Quickies

Willie Cauley-Stein's game fits perfectly with the evolving NBA- Ultra athletic big men that can run the floor and defend multiple positions are the new wave of the NBA and WCS is a prime example of that. He was on KSR Thursday and discussed how he works exclusively on his offensive skills in order to prove people wrong. He puts up 700 to 1,000 jump shots per day. WCS will be an All-Star before long.

UK players carry questions into NBA Draft - Kentucky players will carry questions into this year’s NBA Draft. Tyler Ulis’ hip, Jamal Murray’s defense, Skal Labissiere’s feel for the game puzzle pro personnel.

Jedrick Wills still ending up at UK? - Rivals.com national analyst Mike Farrell is still predicting Jedrick Wills to UK, which would immediately make up for a lot of the losses the Cats have already suffered in this class.

Vince Marrow speaks out about decommitments - Vince Marrow was asked how the staff deals with decommitments, and while he was unable to speak about specific recruits, he gave a pretty interesting answer.

Q&A: Chad Ford talks NBA Draft - ESPN senior NBA Insider and NBA Draft analyst Chad Ford held a media conference call on Friday in which he discussed UK draft prospects.

Archie Goodwin weighs in on LeBron James versus Steph Curry - Suns guard Archie Goodwin has joined the debate on who is the better player between Cavaliers forward LeBron James and Warriors guard Steph Curry.

Stephen Foster’s ageless wonder Majestic Harbor still finding his best stride - Fresh off his 10th win in 41 career starts, Majestic Harbor is climbing back under the ropes Saturday night for another title shot, so to speak. The Paul McGee-trained warrior sits as the 5-1 co-second choice on the morning line in the Grade I, $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Former Duke Blue Devil Derryck Thorton is a Trojan- Did coach K ask Thornton to leave or did he exit Duke because of lack of playing time? The debate still rages but he now has a home at USC and three years of eligibility.

Five-star small forward Kris Wilkes is still waiting on Kentucky offer- The 2017 player is getting ready to trim his list but Kentucky isn't on it and he REALLY wants Kentucky to be on it. He is the #16 ranked player in the class but John Calipari has other players at his position that he considers a priority right now. Their message to Wilkes? "Get better". I wouldn't hold my breath for an offer if I was him.

The New York Knicks are interested in trading for Derrick Rose- I'm not sure how much gas Rose has left in the tank at this stage in his career. The injury prone point guard and former number one draft pick has shown flashes of brilliance during his time with the Bulls, but he hasn't played a full season since... I'm not sure when.

Disney Pixar's Finding Dory is set to break records- My four year old is excited to see this but I always found Finding Nemo to be overrated.

Kurt Cobain's art set to visit a town near you- The late music icon was a prolific artist as well as a ground-breaking musician. His art will be a part of a traveling display.

WWE hall of famer Jerry Lawler suspended- The wrestling great was arrested on domestic assault charges Friday morning. Lawler is 66 and his fiance is 27. Yes, 27. Both were arrested in their home in Memphis, Tennessee.