I don't blame Tipton at all, Tim...I don't think he said anything that wasn't fact. I just don't like his delivery and routine backhanded slaps at The University of Kentucky.

I have no problem at all with personal responsibility, but the fact is that the two kids with <1.8 GPA were freshmen and the minimum 1.8 GPA rule doesn't take effect until the start of the athlete's second year.

So a couple of freshmen athletes struggled in class. That's all there is to see there. They broke no rules, nor did Coach Cal in playing them. If everyone is up in arms about the rules, then change the rules - That falls on the NCAA. Programs will have to operate within their set of rules. As long as they do, then I don't see the call to arms for having these kid's heads on a platter for struggling in school...either because they were freshmen who didn't put forth effort because they knew they were going pro (Cousins, Bledsoe, Orton) and the NCAA's rules promote it...or because they legitimately struggled. Not everyone does well in college. I knew people going to UK on Daddy's money, driving the car that Daddy gave them, who had never worked a day in their lives - And they couldn't make a 1.8 in freshman level classes. In that instance you are either dumb, or really don't care enough to assert yourself academically...either way, college isn't for you.

The 1-Year rule that requires a kid out of high school to play a year in college before going pro is the problem. You have these stars that are good enough to get drafted to the NBA, but the NBA is forcing them into a year of college. College isn't for everyone. They are being forced to go, in order to chase their aspirations of a professional career in basketball because they are good enough. I am not going to criticize some kid straight out of the hood who has the God given ability to play lights out basketball, wants to go Pro and make some money, but can't until he sits through a year of college...that system does not promote him to give 100% effort in class and keep a high GPA.

Why do you think that 1-Year rule is in place?

It's NOT for the sake of a kid's education. It's for the NCAA's benefit, because again...college basketball is a big business and these kids are recruited to play competitive basketball, not be students with high GPAs.

If I could go pro and make a million bucks straight out of high school, I would definitely do it. I can always come back to college later and get an education, but the body won't always be able to perform like an NBA star.

It's all about the bucks...and while that may be sad, that's just the way it is. Playing in college for the love of the game, back when it was pure and these were legitimately kids going to school who were not going to have pro careers in basketball, is dying...or dead...at least for these 5-star blue-chippers.