by Paul Jordan
April 1 was not supposed to be like this. Our beloved Wildcats were supposed to be gearing up for a Final Four Battle against King Ratface and his Dukies, but alas ….
Instead, today is shaping up into a very weird one year anniversary of John Calipari coming to Kentucky with a April Fool’s Eve of bizarre rumors, speculation, and semi mass hysteria across the BBN.
First and foremost, I can’t believe the “John Calipari to New Jersey Nets rumor” still has legs but apparently it still does. Of all the rumors, this seems to be the easiest to discount. With an Elite 8 roster now whittled down to four returning players, I would join Dan Wolken and all the Memphis crazies if Calipari decided to bolt for New Jersey leaving utter chaos behind. From what I have learned about John Calipari this year, he is an honorable man … and he is not leaving Kentucky.
Secondly, we veer into the Daniel Orton drama. Apparently Daniel Orton’s dad announced that his son would be leaving UK soon and going to California to get ready for the NBA scouts and start the arduous task of meeting, greeting, and working out for the NBA brass. Jerry Tipton talked to Orton’s Dad who said that Orton would test the waters and would not hire an agent, leaving the door open for a return to UK. This was expected by most people.
Daniel’s dad, Larry, talked to Larry Vaught and told him that 4-5 teams were interested in taking Daniel in the first 20 picks and with good workouts, he could make his way into the top five. His Dad went on to say that Daniel would be dropping his classes in case he needs to return to UK, but the plans are to be in the draft. Then he had some comments about how his kid would have “made DeMarcus look bad” had he played more.
And then things got
weird
weirder.
Daniel Orton then sent out some responses via twitter that he had not declared for the draft yet and that he was still exploring his options. And then he tweeted out the following comment: “I would like for anyone to disregard anything that you might have heard my father say he was taken the wrong way in his interview.”
More on this later, but it bears watching to see if Orton does stay in Lexington.
And now we come to the transfer rumors. It now appears that Jon Hood is NOT transferring and his father Brian confirmed that this was just a rumor. But now it appears that Darnell Dodson will be the one leaving and DeMarcus Cousins has been reported as saying Dodson will be entering the NBA Draft. Seeing that Jodie Meeks went in the second round last year, it is hard to imagine Dodson getting even a similar draft situation … but weirder things have happened.
And April Fools is just beginning. Be careful what you read.
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