Morris definitely out for Kentucky exhibition opener

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Posted 8:17PM on Tuesday, November 1, 2005

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Randolph Morris, whose eligibility for this basketball season remains in question, definitely will not start for Kentucky in the Wildcats' exhibition opener at home against Northern State (S.D.), coach Tubby Smith said Tuesday. But Morris' eligibility status is only one reason the 6-foot-10 sophomore center won't play Wednesday against the NCAA Division II squad. Morris also has a toe injury that Smith said possibly could involve torn ligaments. Smith said Tuesday he had no update on Morris' eligibility status. Morris, who started 33 of 34 games last season, entered the NBA draft but went unselected before returning to Kentucky, hoping a little-used NCAA rule would allow him to again play for the Wildcats, who finished 28-6 last season. At issue is what sort of relationship Morris had with sports agency SFX which issued a statement on behalf of Morris on June 21 and if that relationship constituted an agreement with the agency. If it did, that would end Morris' collegiate eligibility. Smith has said he expects the NCAA to restore Morris' eligibility at some point. In the interim, Kentucky's starting lineup is in flux. Smith named three starters Tuesday: guards Rajon Rondo and Patrick Sparks and swingman Joe Crawford. Rondo and Sparks started last season. But the two frontline positions remain up for grabs, Smith said. The candidates at center are juniors Lukasz Obrzut and Shagari Alleyne and freshman Jared Carter, while juniors Sheray Thomas, Bobby Perry and Rekalin Sims are contenders at forward. ``Me, Rekalin Sims, Bobby Perry we are all playing well and hopefully you can put any one of us in at that position,'' Thomas said. ``We won't know who is starting until probably before game time. In a way it matters (who starts), but in a way it doesn't. We are a pretty deep team so whoever starts or comes off the bench, there is no real difference.'' A new NCAA rule allows players to appear in exhibition games but still be eligible for redshirt status, so Smith plans to play Carter, a 7-foot-2 Scott County High School product who Smith said has been a pleasant surprise, against Northern State on Wednesday and Georgetown (Ky.) on Nov. 9. Even if Morris returns, Carter may not redshirt, Smith said. ``He has shown a lot of improvement and has played extremely well,'' Smith said of Carter. ``He has showed a lot promise picking up 20 pounds over the summer. I love his attitude. He is a very skilled player. He'll be fighting for playing time all year.'' Northern State finished 21-10 last season and lost in the first round of the NCAA Division II tournament. The Wolves are coached by Don Meyer, who has 814 career wins, most of which came at Lipscomb when that Nashville, Tenn., school was an NAIA power. Meyer ranks eighth on the all-time career coaching wins list and is third among active coaches behind Harry Statham of McKendree (Ill.) and Bobby Knight of Texas Tech. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)