Finally some good news for Louisville

Louisville hasn't had the best of luck this offseason.

It started with the trial of the century in Alabama, and ended with the Cardinals' roster a pile of smoldering rubble. Samardo Samuels went pro; Roburt Sallie didn't graduate from Memphis in time; Jared Swopshire has a sports hernia; Justin Coleman did not qualify; Russ Smith is out with an ankle injury; and Preston Knowles will miss two games after getting in a fight with his girlfriend's father.

Finally -- mercifully -- the Cards got some good news today. Gorgui Dieng, a 6'10" Senegalese center that spent last season at Huntington Prep in West Virginia, has won his appeal and been cleared by the NCAA. Just three weeks ago, he was found ineligible by the NCAA due to problems with his academics.

Gorgui Dieng was cleared to play for Louisville this afternoon.
(photo credit: sportsthat)

Dieng is your typical African big man import -- a long, athletic shotblocker and rebounder. He does have a decently developed offensive game, as he is capable of hitting jumpers from the elbows. Perhaps most impressive about him is that he speaks five languages. Hopefully, one of them is english.

Anyway, Dieng is practicing with the team today. I'll let Card Chronicle explain Louisville fan's reaction:

He is practicing with the team today.

Good wins out. Much rejoicing takes place.

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Another Louisville newcomer is ineligible

At this point, could you really blame a Louisville Cardinal fan from looking forward to the 2011-2012 season? Because nothing has gone right for the Cardinals this offseason.

The summer kicked off with Rick Pitino's name and reputation being dragged through the mud as he took the witness stand in Karen Sypher's extortion trial. Then, Memphis transfer Roburt Sallie didn't graduate and freshman Justin Coleman was declared ineligible. Pitino then found out that not only will Jared Swopshire be missing more than a month with a sports hernia, but freshman Russ Smith could miss up to three months due to an ankle injury he suffered.

And now?

Gorgui Dieng, a 6'10" Senegalese forward that spent last season at Huntington Prep in West Virginia, was declared ineligible by the NCAA. The issue, as told to Jeff Borzello by Dieng's high school coach Fulford, is his "African transcript. [The] NCAA said he finished high school in Senegal, [but] he didn’t, so they then said he didn’t graduate on time [because of the] 8-semester rule. They appealed, but not sure where it is. [He] graduated here! They are saying he should have graduated over there. His last African transcript said 11th grade. It is obviously very confusing."

A tough break for Louisville and for Dieng.

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