Three keep their name in the draft

On Tuesday, three players decided officially to keep their names in the NBA draft pool.

Louisville's Terrence Jennings, Georgia Tech's Iman Shumpert, and Michigan's Darius Morris will all be forgoing the rest of their collegiate eligibility to remain in this year's draft. Here's a look at how those decision will affect their now-former teams:


Terrence Jennings, Louisville: Jennings decision to leave was probably a smart one. The Louisville junior has an NBA body and NBA athleticism, but he is a long way from proving he has an NBA post game. The problem with playing for a team like Louisville, however, is that he likely won't get many opportunities to showcase his ability in the post next season.

Rick Pitino likes to run. He likes to have his team's pressure the ball in the full court, get out in transition, and fire away from beyond the arc. His big men -- especially in the last few seasons -- have been asked to play the role of shot blockers and offensive rebounders. Jennings isn't going to be isolated on the post too often, which would mean that he won't have the opportunity to showcase any improvements he makes. And in the eyes of the NBA, if you're not improving, you're regressing with age.

Louisville will be alright next season. They return quite a bit of talent in their back court -- Kyle Kuric, Peyton Siva, Chris Smith -- and could see a couple of injured players return to the rotation in Jared Swopshire and Raheem Buckles. Throw in the emergence of Gorgui Dieng and an excellent recruiting class -- Wayne Blackshear, Zach Price, Chane Benahan -- and the Cardinals are loaded with talent.


Darius Morris, Michigan: Michigan will get hurt the worst of these three teams. The Wolverines were young and promising, especially down the stretch of last season. With essentially the entire roster returning from a team that won eight of their last 11 games to make the NCAA Tournament, and then came a Morris floater away from forcing overtime with Duke in the second round, much was to be expected of Michigan next season.

But Morris was the most important piece. He averaged over 15 ppg and almost 7 apg. He was the team's best scorer and best creator. He was the reason that players like Stu Douglass and Zak Novak were able to get open looks from beyond the arc. He's the reason Jordan Morgan got as many easy dunks around the rim. He was hands down the best playmaker, handing out quadruple the assists of anyone else on the team.

Without Morris, Tim Hardaway, Jr, is going to have to step up and become a star as a sophomore if John Beilein fancies the idea of getting to the NCAA Tournament again.


Iman Shumpert, Georgia Tech: Shumpert was far and away the best player for the Yellow Jackets last season. He led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals, which is a tough thing to do for a 6'5" guard.

If Shumpert had returned to Tech, things would have looked promising for the Yellow Jackets. While they only won five ACC games a year ago, they will still return six of their top eight scorers with Shumpert keeping his name in the draft. Glen Rice, Jr, and Brian Oliver both showed the potential to be big-time players, while Mfon Udofia should be a solid point guard to replace Shumpert.

Also joining the Aztecs with be Brandon Reed, a transfer from Arkansas State that averaged 15.1 ppg as a freshman. The issue for the Yellow Jackets, however, does not involve their back court. Kammeon Holsey and Daniel Miller return up front, but Brian Gregory will not have much scoring punch at his disposal inside.
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POSTERIZED: Terrence Jennings finishes a fast break with ferocity

Fast-breaks are one of the best opportunities to throw down a dunk. The numbers are in the favor of the offense, the defender is usually helpless and cannot cover all the guys, and most importantly, big strong guys are running down the court at full speed.

Louisville's Terrence Jennings finished off a 3-on-1 fast-break against West Virginia with authority.



It wasn't the flashiest dunk, nor was it the prettiest, but it was mean, nasty and worth two big points.

(H/T @TheMikanDrill)


But was it as good as one of these?:

POSTERIZED - Deniz Kilicli, West Virginia
POSTERIZED - Dwayne Lathan, Indiana State
POSTERIZED - Kenny Gabriel, Auburn
POSTERIZED - Travis Leslie, Louisville
POSTERIZED - Matt Dickey, UNC-Asheville
POSTERIZED - Jeff Robinson, Xavier
POSTERIZED - Nyika Williams
POSTERIZED - Jawanza Poland, South Florida
POSTERIZED - Brady Jardine, Utah State
POSTERIZED - Tony Mitchell, Alabama
POSTERIZED - John Williams, UNC-Asheville
POSTERIZED - Peyton Siva, Louisville
POSTERIZED - E'Twaun Moore, Purdue
POSTERIZED - DJ Newbill, Southern Mississippi
POSTERIZED - Scotty Hopson, Tennessee
POSTERIZED - Justin Brownlee, St. John's
POSTERIZED - Tyrone Johnson
POSTERIZED - Travis Leslie, Georgia
POSTERIZED - Terrence Ross, Washington
POSTERIZED - Justin Tubbs, East Tennessee State
POSTERIZED - Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
POSTERIZED - Andre Roberson, Colorado
POSTERIZED - Durrell Summers, Michigan State
POSTERIZED - Phillip McDonald, New Mexico
POSTERIZED - Kyle Kuric, Louisville
POSTERIZED - Anthony Nelson, Niagara
POSTERIZED - Cory Joseph, Texas
POSTERIZED - Will Sheehey, Indiana
POSTERIZED - Tom Pritchard, Indiana
POSTERIZED - Shay Shine, High Point
POSTERIZED - John Holland, Boston
POSTERIZED - Keith Gabriel, VMI
POSTERIZED - Travis McKie, Wake Forest
POSTERIZED - Jefferson Mason, Minnesota State (D-II)
POSTERIZED - Tyler Johnson, Fresno State
POSTERIZED - John Williams, UNC-Asheville
POSTERIZED - Derrick Williams, Arizona
POSTERIZED - Hollis Thompson, Georgetown
POSTERIZED - Darnell Wilks, Cincinnati
POSTERIZED - Rodney Williams, Minnesota
POSTERIZED - Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette
POSTERIZED - Darrius Garrett, Richmond
POSTERIZED - Travis Cohn, Jacksonville
POSTERIZED - Ramon Galloway, South Carolina
POSTERIZED - Terrence Jones, Kentucky
POSTERIZED - Justin Tubbs, East Tennessee State
POSTERIZED - John Williams, UNC-Asheville
POSTERIZED - Kevin Smith, Richmond
POSTERIZED - Mitchell Watt, Buffalo
POSTERIZED - Chandler Parsons, Florida
POSTERIZED - Kenny Gabriel, Auburn
POSTERIZED - Paris Horne, St. John's
POSTERIZED - Travis Leslie, Georgia
POSTERIZED - Laurence Bowers, Missouri
POSTERIZED - Drew Gordon, New Mexico
POSTERIZED - Tony Mitchell, Alabama
POSTERIZED - Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt
POSTERIZED - LaMarcus Reed, UT-Arlington
POSTERIZED - Marcus Morris, Kansas
POSTERIZED - Jared Cunningham, Oregon State
POSTERIZED - Langston Morris-Walker
POSTERIZED - Chris Wright and Juwan Staten, Dayton
POSTERIZED - D.J Stephens, Memphis
POSTERIZED - Derrick Williams, Arizona
POSTERIZED - Reeves Nelson, UCLA
POSTERIZED - Kendall Marshall and John Henson, UNC
POSTERIZED - Terrence Jones, Kentucky
POSTERIZED - Rodney Williams, Minnesota
POSTERIZED - Joe Jackson, Memphis
POSTERIZED - Shay Shine, High Point
POSTERIZED - Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
POSTERIZED - Kent Bazemore, Old Dominion
POSTERIZED - CJ Fair, Syracuse
POSTERIZED - LeBryan Nash
POSTERIZED - Rodney Williams, Minnesota
POSTERIZED - Travis Leslie, Georgia
POSTERIZED - Terrence Jones, Kentucky
POSTERIZED - Marcus Jordan, Central Florida
POSTERIZED - Lorenzo Brown, NC State
POSTERIZED - Tai Wesley, Utah State
POSTERIZED - Trent Lockett, Arizona State, and Derrick Williams, Arizona
POSTERIZED - Brandon Paul, Illinois
POSTERIZED - Jordan Hamilton, Texas

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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Centers

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 9th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured the best way to finish up our 2008-2009 season previews is to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am not putting the freshman in the list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment until I see them play. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Here are the point guards.
Here are the shooting guards.
Here are the small forwards.
Here are the power forwards.
These are the centers.

Best Freshman:

• Keith "Tiny" Gallon, Oklahoma
• Alex Oriakhi, UConn
• Daniel Orton, Kentucky
• Aaric Murray, La Salle
  

Best of the Rest:

• Dwayne Collins, Miami
• Mac Kowshal, DePaul
• Chas McFarland, Wake Forest
• Keith Benson, Oakland
• Omar Samhan, St. Mary's
• Magnum Rolle, Louisiana Tech
  

Top 10:

• 10. Terrence Jennings, Louisville: Jennings is an imposing athlete. Standing 6'10", he is strong, fast, and can really jump. Where Jennings could really stand to improve is in his polish. Just a sophomore, Jennings was terrific last season at establishing position, many times because he simply beat his man down the floor. An excellent finisher when his teammates set him up, Jennings did not have much in the way of post moves. His strength allowed him to be effective with a strong drop step over his left shoulder, but beyond that he is still quite raw. But, as I said, Jennings is just a sophomore. A summer under the tutelage of Rick Pitino should have him much improved this season.
  

Terrence Jennings will be counted on for quite a bit of production
as Louisville looks to replace Earl Clark and Terrence Williams.
(photo credit: Hell in the Hall)

• 9. Dexter Pittman, Texas: For Pittman, the issue has never been talent. As a 6'10", big-bodied junior, Pittman averaged double figures while playing just 17 mpg last season. A huge reason for that is his ability to establish post position. Checking in at close to 300 lb, Pittman is able to get deep on the block and hold off defenders. He also has shown a decent array of post moves, as he has a solid touch inside of about seven feet. Blessed with nimble feet and solid mobility, Pittman needs to improve his explosiveness as he is not going to jump over many people. That explosiveness should go hand-in-hand with Pittman getting into shape. He came into Texas at close to 400 lb, and even though he has lost near 100 lb, Pittman still has very limited endurance, hence the limited playing time last season. If he gets into shape, Pittman will be a dominant force inside.
  


• 8. Solomon Alabi, Florida State: Alabi is a guy that oozes potential. Tall, long, and mobile, Alabi was the most effective last season as a defender. But he definitely has shown some potential as an offensive player. He has a nice touch out to about 15 feet, and seems to have a decent feel for the game. As is true with most players of his build (tall and skinny), Alabi will be much more effective as he adds strength, especially in his lower body.
  


• 7. Larry Sanders, VCU: Sanders is as raw of a player as you will find. While he did show some improvement in his post game last season, Sanders still is not much more than a catch-and-finish guy offensively. But as the junior has now been in college for two years, that aspect of his game should continue to improve. Where Sanders impresses is with his length. 6'10" with a 7'7" wingspan, Sanders routinely grabs impressive rebounds from outside of his area and blocks quite a few shots. As he continues to add strength and polish, keep an eye on Sanders throughout the season as he is a major reason new head coach Shaka Smart has a chance to keep VCU on the national radar after the graduation of Eric Maynor.
  

Larry Sanders may have the longest wingspan in college basketball.
(photo credit: VCU Athletics)

• 6. Jerome Jordan, Tulsa: Jordan has been on the NBA draft radar for a few years, but during conference play last season, he really came on strong averaging 17 ppg. The biggest strides Jordan has made is offensively. While his overall polish is fairly lackluster, Jordan developed a decent array of post moves and has a much better recognition of when to use them; essentially, he is starting to develop a feel for the game offensively. Defensively, Jordan's shot blocking numbers were down last season, but some of that can be attributed to players avoiding him inside. Overall, the senior is still quite raw as a prospect, but with his above average athleticism, his 7 foot frame, and his 7'6" wingspan, Jordan should produce big time numbers playing in C-USA.
  


• 5. Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State: Even with Hasheem Thabeet in Storrs last season, Varnado may have been the most dominating interior defender in college basketball. And defensively is where he will make his presence felt again this season. What makes Varnado so effective at blocking shots is that he is disciplined when it comes to biting on pump fakes and he is so quick off the floor, on both his first and second jump. His offensive game still leaves quite a bit to be desired as he is essentially a non-factor outside of dunking the ball. What impressed me the most about Varnado was what happened this off-season. Varnado declared for the draft, knowing that Mississippi State's signing of Renardo Sidney would mean that Varnado would be the Bulldog's 14th scholarship player. So he decided that he would walk-on this year, paying his own way through school.
  


• 4. JaJuan Johnson, Purdue: Johnson has certainly come a long way in the last four years. As a high school junior, Johnson was a 170 lb, 6'10" center that played JV basketball. Today, the 215 lb center (that can reportedly bench press 285 lb) is a potential Big Ten player of the year. Johnson's biggest attribute on the offensive end is his shooting touch. Johnson has excellent range and does not hesitate to shoot when he is left open from 18 feet. While his post game still leaves a bit to be desired, he has developed a fairly reliable turn around and jump hook, which is most effective when he makes quick moves. His under developed frame makes it difficult for him to hold position inside, on both ends of the floor, but you can definitely see why the agile, athletic center is drawing the attention of some NBA scouts.
  


• 3. AJ Ogilvy, Vanderbilt: Ogilvy is very different from the rest of the players on this list as he is not an athlete and doesn't have a ton of potential due to his length and athleticism. Operating one-on-one in the post, Ogilvy is so difficult to stop. He has a variety of effective post moves, and knows how to use pump-fakes and counter-moves to set them up. Where Ogivly struggles offensively is when he is forced to step away from the basket. He doesn't have a great jump shot, and his ability to put the ball on the floor is limited, but improving. While Ogilvy is probably not going to top NBA Draft boards as his athleticism and length is less than ideal, Ogilvy is hands down the best back-to-the-basket center in college basketball.
  


• 2. Ed Davis, UNC: Like Aldrich last season, Davis had limited opportunities as a freshman, playing behind Tyler Hansbrough. But that doesn't mean Davis wasn't productive. In just under 19 mpg, Davis averaged 6.7 ppg and 6.6 rpg. Davis is an excellent athlete with a ton of energy, crashing the offensive glass and defending the rim, especially when coming from the weak side. Davis should see a natural increase in his scoring simply from playing more minutes and being so effective gathering garbage points, but if he can develop a real back to the basket game, Davis could end up being a 15, 10, and 3 block center this year.
  

Cole Aldrich looks to win a second NCAA title.
(photo credit: NY Daily News)

• 1. Cole Aldrich, Kansas: Aldrich improved drastically from his freshman to sophomore season, although much of that was a result of the increased playing he got as a sophomore. Defensively, Aldrich has the ability to be a game changer. At 6'11", he has a ridiculous wingspan and a frame that will be able to hold a lot of strength. As evidenced by his triple-double against a tough Dayton team in the second round of the NCAA Tournament (13 points, 20 boards, 10 blocks), Aldrich is an excellent rebounder with the ability to dominate in the paint. Offensively is where Aldrich could still stand to improve. While he did average 14.9 ppg, much of that was off of lobs, drop-offs, and offensive rebounds. Aldrich is mechanical in the post, and he doesn't have a great touch, but he has shown some signs of developing a solid post game, especially his jump hook. All told, Aldrich is a throwback center, and should once again dominate the Big XII.
  

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Louisville players plead guilty, avoid jail time

Two Louisville players who were arrested for scuffling with a cop pleaded guilty in a Jeffersonville, IN, City Court.

Jerry Smith and Terrence Jennings will receive one year suspended sentences, a year of probation, and perform 40 hours of community service.

If you remember, two weeks ago the two players were arrested and charged with resisting arrest stemming from a fight at the bar Kye's. Both prospective starters this season for the Cardinals, Smith and Jennings will not miss any game time for Louisville.

Louisville has to be glad this ordeal is over, as they have plenty of distractions to deal with this season.
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No. 21: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Louisville Cardinals

2008-2009 Record:

Key Losses: Terrence Williams, Earl Clark

Key Returners: Jerry Smith (7.8 ppg, 41.2% 3's), Edgar Sosa (7.3 ppg, 2.4 apg), Samardo Samuels (11.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Terrence Jennings (4.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg)

Newcomers: Peyton Siva, Rakeem Buckles, Mike Marra, Richie Phares, Stephen Van Treese

With Terrence Williams and Earl Clark now in the NBA, sophomore Samardo Samuels is going to be counted on for much more production inside.
(photo credit: Zimbio)

The Louisville Cardinals had a bit of a tumultuous off-season. They lost versatile talents Terrence Williams and Earl Clark to the NBA, Rick Pitino had his most embarrassing moment make national headlines all summer long, and two prospective starters (Jerry Smith and Terrence Jennings) face charges resulting from a fight in Indiana last weekend. But the fact of the matter is that this Louisville program is still stocked with young talent.

Let's start up front, where youth doesn't necessarily mean a lack of productivity. Of the six interior players expected to be in the rotation for the Ville, four are sophomores and two are freshmen. The best of the bunch, at least last season, was 6'9" Samardo Samuels. Samuels is a load on the block, tipping the scales at 260 lb. Samuels is not a very explosive player, but he is as technically sound as they come on the block. He has quick feet in the post and he really understands how to use his body and his strength to his advantage in the lane. Those nimble feet and ample strength also make Samuels an excellent defender and offensive rebounder. His defensive rebounding numbers were not anything too impressive, but a big reason for that was how well Terrence Williams could rebound; Samuels at times was only needed to box out the opposing center. Samuels tailed off a bit towards the end of last season, seeming to get worn out from the season and, simply put, because he struggled a bit against bigger players. Given an off-season to work his body into shape, I'd expect Samuels to have a big year as one of Louisville's top offensive options.

Joining him up front will likely be Terrence Jennings. Jennings showed quite a bit of promise as a freshman. Jennings is a perfect contrast to Samuels up front. His offensive skills need quite a bit of polish, but he is a strong 6'10" with impressive athleticism. He runs the floor well for someone his size, he seals hard in the paint, and if he touches the ball within five feet, he's getting a dunk. But that's about it for Jennings offensively. He has quite a bit of NBA potential, but until he develops an offensive game, he is going to be mostly a dunker and shot blocker, even at this level. But how will he handle playing alongside Samuels as opposed to backing him up?

Joining those two is a deep and talented pool of forwards. Sophomore Jared Swopshire looks to be the leader as the first big off the bench. Swopshire is less of a pure post than Samuels or Jennings, which is important for Pitino's 2-3 zone. If Samuels or Jennings struggles playing as a wing, Swopshire has the same kind of length and athleticism that a guy like Clark had. Another sophomore, George Goode, is a kid with a lot of potential, especially on the defensive end where he had an impressive 20 blocks in just 160 minutes last season. Perhaps the most important player in this front court will be Rakeem Buckles. With Clark and Williams out of the picture, Louisville loses quite a bit of versatility and playmaking ability. Buckles, a 6'8" combo forward known for his perimeter and face-up game, could be the guy that replaces that. Stephan Van Treese, a 6'9" freshman, is another big body that could provide minutes up front.

As we have become accustomed to, Louisville will begin the season with a back court of four interchangeable 6'2" guards. Leading the way will be two seniors - Jerry Smith and Edgar Sosa. Sosa is a bit on an enigma. After an impressive freshman season, Sosa has had a disappointing couple of years, including a junior season in which his minutes were cut and he was nearly asked to transfer by Pitino. Sosa has the talent - he can shoot, he can pass, he can defend - but it is his poor decision making and questionable effort that has made his become a question mark. Louisville is going to need him to step up and become a play maker to help replace what was lost with Williams and Clark.

Smith will most likely start alongside Sosa. Smith is one of those guys who has seemingly been in school forever. His best attribute is his perimeter shot, as he knocked down 41.2% of his attempts from deep. But Smith is also an excellent defender that has proven over the last three years he has no qualms with harassing opposing back courts for 94 feet. Preston Knowles, who had a bit of a breakout sophomore season, is exactly the same player. Knowles may actually be better than Smith, as he has garnered a reputation for being one of the best on-ball defenders in the Big East and proved last season he could be relied on for his perimeter shot, hitting 43.2% from deep.

The best of the bunch may be a freshman. Seattle native Peyton Siva was as sought after as any PG recruit in the country. He can basically do whatever it is you want from a point guard. He can break down a defender, he can lead the break, he works his tail off defensively, and he can rise up and dunk on a big man in the lane or hit a 23 footer off the dribble. What makes him so appealing to Pitino is his play making ability. Siva is going to create points - either for himself or by setting up teammates.

Outlook: Louisville's biggest problem next season is going to be replacing the offensive production that Earl Clark and Terrence Williams brought to the table. Williams played the role of point guard for the Cardinals last season, using his ability to drive and dish to create opportunities in the half court. With Williams, and to a lesser extent Clark, gone, filling that role will be key for Louisville. They have the shooters, they have guys in the paint that can finish, but will they have someone that can set those guys up? Will they have someone that can create their own shot? The Cardinals struggled to score at times last season, and lost their two best offensive players. Defensively, they should be just fine. With a four guard rotation still, they should have no problem pressuring the ball for 40 minutes. The only issue I see is that it may be a struggle for Samuels or Jennings to play a wing role in the 2-3 zone. This roster has the talent to make the dance and finish in the top five in the Big East, but will Pitino be able to get his players to move past all the off-season distractions?
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Terrence Jennings and Jerry Smith will not miss any game time, only face once charge

There were two new developments in the case against two Louisville basketball players. If you remember, over the weekend Jerry Smith and Terrence Jennings, both expected to start this year for the Cardinals, were arrested after a fight at Kye's, a bar in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Rick Pitino spoke with ESPN.com, telling Dana O'Neil that:

They will be punished and are being punished right now. But no, they will not miss game time.

So that settles that debate. It looks Gary Parrish was right.

The other news that came out today was that the two players would only be facing one charge stemming from the altercation - a single count each of resisting law enforcement. The police report initially stated that both Jennings and Smith would be facing multiple charges, including disorderly conduct and battery of a law enforcement official. But as Clark County prosecuting attorney Steve Stewart told the Jeffersonville Evening News:

People don't understand that police make a recommendation in the report, but the prosecutor makes the decision what charges will be filed.

Ok, so it was Stewart's decision to only file one charge each against Jennings and Smith. Understandable, I guess. The cops were off-duty and only wearing t-shirts, albeit t-shirts that said police on it.

That said, it would have been nice if Mr. Stewart had made us aware of any mitigating circumstances (h/t Rush the Court, who always do their due diligence):



I know I am insinuating a pretty serious accusation, and I know that Stewart no doubt takes his job very seriously, but lets look at the facts: Jennings got in a fight in a bar, was seen by the cops "shoving" people, was taken to the ground where he, as Pitino put it, took some "pretty good blows" and had to be tazed not once, but twice, before Smith interfered with the police to the point that he, too, was arrested. Should I mention that Jennings, who doesn't turn 21 until Nov. 2nd, also had alcohol in his system?

Maybe witnesses came forward that said Jennings didn't deserve the second jolt of electricity. Maybe Stewart was trying to avoid excessive force accusations against these cops. Maybe the fact that they were off-duty played a factor.

But isn't it possible that Stewart didn't want to see two starters from the same school he received his law degree get a couple extra charges?

To be fair, I spoke with someone who works as a prosecuting attorney in Connecticut (different laws than Indiana, but same premise), and they said that many attorneys don't like to charge a person with more than one crime for a single event. Instead of assuming that Stewart gave these kids a break because he went to Louisville's law school, my guess is that Stewart took this as a single event; that it wasn't fair to pile on extra charges for one offense. Apparently, this is a pretty standard procedure, so I think that Stewart should be given the benefit of the doubt.

The bigger issue is that Pitino won't make these two miss any game time. If "any time you defy a police officer, it's serious", as Pitino was quoted as saying, then shouldn't these two players be punished for their defiance of a police officer?

If scuffling with some cops doesn't get you at least a game suspension, what does?

Again, if we are going to be fair, there is some precedence. In July of 2008, West Virginia point guard Joe Mazzulla was arrested for a very similar offense - he and a teammate got into it with a couple off-duty cops at a Pittsburgh Pirates game. They didn't miss any game time in 2008-2009 season as a result. Mazzulla was arrested again this past spring, and while he was suspended indefinitely from team activities over the summer, he has since been reinstated and won't miss any game time this season.
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More bad news for Louisville: New charges added against Jerry Smith and Terrence Jennings

Police have added new charges against Louisville's Jerry Smith and Terrence Jennings stemming from a fight inside a bar in Jeffersonville, Indiana, at 1am on Sunday.

In addition to the charges of resisting arrest, Smith and Jennings will both also be charged with disorderly conduct and battery of a law enforcement officer.

The police report of the incident was also released.

Additional charges were filed against Terrence Jennings and Jerry Smith.
(photo credit: Sporting News)

Apparently, Jennings got into some kind of altercation inside the bar Kye's. Two off-duty officers were working security at the bar, and tried to break-up the fight and get Jennings to step outside and calm down. Jennings didn't listen, and instead fought with the two officers (who were both apparently wearing t-shirts that said "POLICE" on the front and the back). They then took the 6'10" sophomore to the ground, where he was tazed twice while officers were attempting to put him in cuffs. Smith came over while the off-duty cops were waiting for a patrol car, and asked them what he could do to help Jennings. They told him to back away, he didn't, and then resisted when they attempted to restrain him. He, too, was taken to the ground and cuffed.

Jennings, who is 20, also had a blood alcohol level of .022.

This doesn't look good for Jennings, who it seems was the instigator in this whole mess (although there's always the possibility that the other party was the instigator, and the cops simply went after the 6'10" black guy that was shoving people). In any case, Jennings should have been smarter than to put himself in a situation that resulted in both his and Smith's arrest, and he absolutely should have settled down once the police became involved.

If I had to make a guess, it would be that Jennings and Smith both get, at most, a two game suspension (personally, I'd give Jennings two and Smith one, because wouldn't you want a senior captain coming to help out one of his younger teammates. Granted, he probably should have gone about it differently, but that is why he is getting a game).

This once again raises the question: would suspending these two be hypocritical of Pitino? Gary Parrish says it would be, because

Pitino wasn't disciplined for conduct unbecoming of a Louisville Cardinal, [so how can] he discipline players for conduct unbecoming of a Louisville Cardinal?

Its a good point, and I agree to an extent. Getting a group of college kids, let alone big time DI athletes, to buy into the whole "do as I say, not as I do" mantra is a tall task.

That said, keep in mind that Pitino was never arrested.

He didn't break any laws.

While he may have ruined his marriage, his public image, and his iconic status in (parts) of Kentucky, he did nothing illegal.

Jennings and Smith did.

And, as a result, they will probably be punished.
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UPDATE: Louisville's Jerry Smith and Terrence Jennings arrested

Because this off-season hasn't been bad enough for the Louisville Cardinals (although it pales in comparison to what Kansas and Binghamton have gone through).

Last night, sophomore center Terrence Jennings and senior guard Jerry Smith were arrested out Kye's, a restaurant in Jeffersonville, Indiana, where they attended a university alumni event. From WAVE 3 in Louisville:

Police say there was a party at Kye's in Jeffersonville, where Jennings was involved in a fight. According to police, Jennings resisted off duty officers who were investigating the fight. He was charged with resisting arrest, a Class "A" misdemeanor.

Jeffersonville police say Smith then got involved, and despite repeated orders from police to stay away, didn't. He was arrested and also charged with resisting, as well as interfering with law enforcement.

Both men were booked into the Clark County Jail, but have already posted the five thousand dollar bond.

And Pitino was having such a good year.

Terrence Jennings and Jerry Smith were arrested early Sunday morning.
(photo credit: Rush the Court)

In all seriousness, I don't see Smith or Jennings getting a suspension of more than a game or two. Louisville's off-season troubles were not due to mistakes that the players made (like in Brady Morningstar's situation), and in the grand scheme of things, a misdemeanor arrest is not all that big of a deal. Rick Pitino was quoted as saying "we are aware of the situation and will be handling it internally", which is a fancy way of saying that Jennings and Smith will be spending a lot of time running sprints after practice.

I think the bigger concern is that both players are expected to be starters for this Cardinal team, while Smith will be a senior leader in the back court. Is this the example you want Smith setting for guys like Peyton Siva.

UPDATE: Apparently, police had to use a taser to subdue Jennings. But would anyone be surprised? Jennings is 6'10" and 230 lb of muscle. That's a big boy. Continue reading...