In the age of one-and-done players on the Kentucky Basketball roster, it’s unfathomable to think that Nate Sestina is in the conversation to return for his sixth season of Division I college basketball.
The NCAA recently granted eligibility relief for seniors competing in spring sports, all of which have been cancelled, due to the Coronavirus outbreak. This decision has prompted notable college basketball coaches such as Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski and Michigan State’s Tom Izzo to advocate for an extra year for those seniors recently denied the chance to play in this year’s postseason basketball tournaments.
Kentucky Coach John Calipari first announced Sestina’s desire to return on his final radio show of the 2019-20 season with Tom Leach on the UK Sports Network.
On the @UK_HealthCare John Calipari Show, Coach Cal says @NateSestina23 says he’s coming back for another year if the NCAA allows it.
— UK Sports Network (@UKSportsNetwork) March 16, 2020
Sestina began his college career during the 2015-16 season, playing just four games at Bucknell University after suffering a season-ending injury and receiving a medical redshirt. The Pennsylvania native would then play three full season for the Bison before coming to Kentucky as a graduate transfer, helping lead the Wildcats to a 25-6 record and the 49th regular-season Southeastern Conference title in school history.
Sestina finished with 1,037 career points, averaging 5.8 points per game and shot 40.7 percent from three-point range over 28 games.
What about the winter sports?
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 13, 2020
Coach K thinks the NCAA should consider giving seniors who missed out on the tournament an extra year of eligibility too.https://t.co/dpTdVVIPsj
Basketball pundits such as Jay Bilas and Dick Vitale are also pushing for another year of eligibility after the disappointment of having season-ending conference tournaments, Selection Sunday and this year’s Big Dance (the 2020 NCAA Tournament) all cancelled.
What’s your take on another year of eligibility for college basketball seniors?
An additional year of eligibility for those whose seasons were canceled? Seems appropriate. pic.twitter.com/C5UGTIXp6h
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) March 13, 2020