Kentucky Sports Radio
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[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
Some disappointing news to start the week, as a source close to the situation tells me that Daniel Orton did not complete his classes at UK in the last semester. As soon as the season ended, Orton left town and went to California and contrary to his statements made at the time, I am told he did not finish his classes. The other Freshmen that left for the Draft (Wall, Cousins and Bledsoe), team members returning next year and the graduating Seniors all completed their classes and it is expected that the collective GPAs of those will all be significantly better than during first semester. However Orton did not complete classes and thus the actual number might not improve.
The question then remains as to whether Orton’s decision not to finish classes will have any other effect. I am told that the team’s APR is suspected to be good enough that the Cats wont lose a scholarship for next season. However the numbers will be hurt by Orton’s decision and there will be “no room for error by anyone going forward” according to the source.
A disappointing decision by Orton, especially considering his earlier comments. I like Daniel as a person and he is a very bright kid. But there were parts of his time at Kentucky that he handled poorly, not least of all his exit from campus.
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May 24th, 2010 at 10:53 am
Crucify, I’m really joking but damn that’s lame
May 24th, 2010 at 10:53 am
His father seemed to have such a tremendous influence on him, I am surprised he would allow him to do this.
May 24th, 2010 at 10:53 am
Where’s Mark Hamilton when you need him?
May 24th, 2010 at 10:55 am
What a turd.
May 24th, 2010 at 10:55 am
Daniel, learn to read so you can finish your classes … “I can’t Motha F%cka!”
May 24th, 2010 at 10:55 am
let’s hope that your “source close to the situation” is #wrongonpurpose.
May 24th, 2010 at 10:58 am
I wonder what his “escape goat” is?
May 24th, 2010 at 10:58 am
Thanks for nothing Big “Man.” Good Riddance!!!
May 24th, 2010 at 11:00 am
What a way to treat the school that supported you the whole year. Thanks Daniel…for nothing. Very weak….sort of like your stats.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:00 am
I do not want to be hard on him because it seems he had the toughest transition from the Gillispie era. If we still had Giilispie than Orton would have been the star player and the focus of the team last season. Orton must have just been going through the motions to get through the season when he actually he should have gone somewhere else. Sad.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:00 am
Say that Daniel goes on to be a good NBA Player, do UK fans really claim him? Didn’t really help us much on or off the court this past season.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:01 am
That’s a shame. Especially after he said personally that he was going to finish classes. I hope the source is wrong but I doubt it. He seems as if he never enjoyed it as much as the other guys.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:02 am
Although it would never happen because a school would get killed in recruiting, I think a case like this where a kid leaves school early for the NBA and ends up wrecking a program’s APR should be held responsible for the damage he caused. Orton seems like a good kid but he’s getting bad advice and handling the past few months rather poorly.
To me, the main issue with recruiting one-and-dones is that they will think they don’t need to go to class, try to maintain their grades, especially in the second semester after the season’s over. I’m glad the Cousins, Wall and Bledsoe make an effort to keep up but that can’t be taken for granted.
I hope that Calipari in making his recruiting pitches doesn’t gloss over the fact that there are expectations on the player beyond the basketball court, and if there seems to be a conflict of interest or lack of enthusiasm in that area, that Calipari move on to someone more willing to do the work.
Jon
May 24th, 2010 at 11:03 am
That is disappointing news. Not to crucify the kid, but seems pretty selfish to me. Also, though, kind of a stupid rule to try to force kids who have no interest in academics to go to class. No one is forcing students who attend college to build towards a career in, say, medicine or law to play sports. Obviously the only reason he came to UK in the first place was to work towards the NBA. That said, he knew the rule and to quit like he did and hurt the school, not to mention that he lied about it, is pretty selfish.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:03 am
2 – His father is a POS…probably a big reason he made poor decisions while he was here. The other guys cared a lot more about the program than this kid. Thanks for the weak effort Daniel.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Daniel is smarter than I thought!! #wrongonpurpose
May 24th, 2010 at 11:07 am
WAAAAHHHH KSR is bad for the program! WWWWAAAAAAHHHH, no Daniel Orton not going to class is bad for the program
Thanks for the post
May 24th, 2010 at 11:07 am
Apparently, Daniel treats college textbooks like goaltending basketballs…
“GET THAT SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!”
May 24th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Immature decision. Doesn’t mean he’s a horrible person… just very immature right now. Then again, he’s what, 19? I’m immature now and I’m in my 30s.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:09 am
Orton is a liar, plain and simple. He said that he would finish his classes and he didn’t. Lied right through his teeth. Karma is a beyotch!
May 24th, 2010 at 11:09 am
This seems like a character issue as well. This probably hurts his draft status at least a little. Especially relative to Pat and Cuz who national people are falling in love with. This is similar to slacking after getting the big contract 3 years in
May 24th, 2010 at 11:10 am
For all the times I gave him the benefit of the doubt about bad mouthing fans, his dad saying shit about Cousins’ not as good as DO, and leaving early for CA…
It’s official. DO is my least favorite Cat of all time.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:10 am
jerk
May 24th, 2010 at 11:11 am
DO is no DA
May 24th, 2010 at 11:11 am
I like Daniel, by the way. I don’t support what he has supposedly done, but I do think this is one of the main issues that Cal had hinted “will not go on” next season. Kids need to go to their Gen Ed classes and get it done, even if they are leaving early.
Orton made a bad decision, but it will be fine. Hope he does well, and YES, we do claim him as a Wildcat. Once a Cat ALWAYS a Cat.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:12 am
IF this is true… and admittedly, that is an IF… then what a disappointment! Ironic that Cal has something of a reputation for recruiting kids with one foot out the door when it was the Gillispie recruit who apparently sniped about playing time and selfishly dropped out of school early. Again, IF this is true, then no, I don’t claim Orton as a Wildcat.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Orton was in a situation without consequence. How many would have put forth the effort knowing there was nothing bad personally that would come to you if you didn’t?
I think it speaks to integrity more than anything else.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:12 am
I’m confused about the APR–I thought if someone failed to complete the last semester before going to the draft, you automatically lost a scholarship. But it only depends on the overall APR for the team, I guess? And how long will Orton’s failing grades count as part of UK’s APR? I haven’t seen this explained clearly anywhere.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:12 am
I don’t care what anyone says about my comment. This kid is a complete joke. Finishing the semester in California, huh? I said it last week and I will say it again. He is my least favorite Cat in some time. I don’t wish him harm, but I don’t wish him well. What a selfish ass.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Hopefully he will finish somehow unless he is not bright enough? Or he just dosen’t care about UK, Cal, and all they have done for him and his family this year. I bet his mom would have made him finish!
May 24th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Orton hears a boo
May 24th, 2010 at 11:13 am
25. Marvin Stone?
May 24th, 2010 at 11:13 am
His loss!!! He will wish he did in the long run! Very weak on his part thats why he will NOT make it in the big leagues!! Sorry about your luck Daniel you “could” have been a great player!!
May 24th, 2010 at 11:14 am
I was a big Ortin fan but I think my opinion changed over the weekend. First he dissed the fans, then he lied about going to class. Sadly, I do not feel the same about him anymore.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Its always the school that gets screwed. Go Cats!!
May 24th, 2010 at 11:14 am
The system set in place does not help a kid put in this situation, but still; you had a scholarship to the University of Kentucky and should honor that.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:16 am
Normally, I don’t condone the “putting down” of players, past or present. But there are a few exceptions and this could be one of them. If you make a commitment to come to school, even if it IS just for one year, honor your commitments! That’s what life if all about, doing the right thing.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:16 am
Well, there’s a shocker. I knew he wasn’t finishing the semester. He did this knowing what detriment it could have on the program. The #1 pick in the draft finished with a great GPA, but Danny is too good? He didn’t care about UK. This is just another example of him throwing the university under the bus. Bye Bye Daniel.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Its the rational decision, but its the wrong one…a whole lot of people that have done a whole lot for him were counting on him to do what he said he would
Good luck Daniel
May 24th, 2010 at 11:18 am
He really backed himself into a corner by saying he was finishing classes in Cali. We all knew it was BS and now he looks stupid. I guess he was #wrongonpurpose to protect the program. The funny part is that we thought he would be the last of the freshman to have character issues and were dead wrong.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:19 am
#19, slappy nailed it…
“…Then again, he’s what, 19? I’m immature now and I’m in my 30s.”
How true is this? We can a ll sit on here and say what we think he should have done, but if I was a year removed from high school, lost my mom, went to a major university and had the chance to make millions in 365 days, do you really think I would really want to focus on English 101 at White Hall? No way. I am not defending him, because it was a terrible decision, but not unlike one I might have made a decade or so ago.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:19 am
Thanks, DO. We appreciate it. It’s all about you, baby.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Agree w/ JP Scott that Cal should get a commitment from the likely one and done players that they complete their spring classes. Further, if any players start to display actions that might be detrimental to the program that they be suspended from the team. A clear and forceful message needs to be sent that these rent a players will not be allowed to destroy the integrity of the program.
Daniel contributed very little to the team this past year and with this news seems to have become a net negative. Wish he would have gone somewhere else – and he deserves all the criticism he will be getting from BBN on facebook and otherwise.
Hope he ends up on the Knicks so I can go boo him.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:22 am
If true, Orton should have manned up and admitted to not finishing classes. Don’t lie about it. That’s childish.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:23 am
41. I’m 22, just graduated, he’s dead wrong, no excuses, no character
May 24th, 2010 at 11:23 am
41) I would say the disappointment is that his handlers didn’t advise him to finish what he committed to. Yes he’s 19, but his father, brothers, agent, manager, ect. are the ones guiding his decisions and they dropped the ball big time.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:24 am
#32–
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Stone_(basketball)
May 24th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Check it.
Before everyone uses this forum to blast Daniel Orton – from what I heard and believe to be his reason for jetting after the season ended makes a whole lot of sense. All I can say without my post be deleted is that it concerns D.O., EKU Cheerleader, and a little bundle of financial responsibility. If I were in his shoes making money would be my biggest priority as well.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:27 am
I’m done giving this guy empathy. I understand being talented in athletics and the pressures of the transition from high school to college.
The same can be said academically though. It was a month and a half worth of effort that he could have given to UK and Coach Cal.
Thanks for being completely self-centered, arrogant, a liar, and for damaging the future of the program.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Yea, he’s a kid, and he’s been through alot with his mother and all. But this is wrong. It’s nothing more or less than a case of someone not considering or caring about the effect that his actions has regarding others. There is zero excuse for this. If his game needs so much work that he didn’t have time to finish his classes prior to the draft, he isn’t good enough to jump at this point anyway. This will catch up with him I fear.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:28 am
48, but how does failing to finish the semester get him money any quicker?
May 24th, 2010 at 11:28 am
47. Marvin Stone doesn’t count as a Cat. 100% don’t care about him. Moral of the story its not always “once a Cat always a Cat” You better honor that jersey or else you are not a true Cat
May 24th, 2010 at 11:28 am
When I knew I was leaving UK and would not graduate I still finished all my classes. He made himself look foolish by saying he would in fact finish. If this is true I am not sure how all of the others were able to finish their work but he was not. He will not be remembered in high esteem. He is one cat I will not follow in the NBA.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Those who say, “Once a Cat, always a Cat”, I ask, when was he a Cat? A Cat looks out for the university as well as his personal amibitions. Wall could have hung out in the Lodge all day playing video games, but chose not to jeopardize the program. Wall is a Cat. Orton is a user, nothing more. Daniel Orton, a legend in his own mind.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:29 am
48 — to me, it’s not that he went to the NBA this year, but it’s the fact that he didn’t finish classes. There’s no excuse for that, especially given that the other 3 departing freshmen did. I wished DO well when he decided to leave, but he owed it to the program and the fans to finish his classes.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:30 am
#49 I believe it is the Rockstar like status given to these players because of our program that is the main reason why Mr. Orton got into the situation described in post #48 in which he now has to deal with for the rest of his life.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:31 am
JerryTownBlotter – 48….Just like CatFanInDXC said how does him bailing on his academic responsibilities get him paid any faster? I mean if he officially dropped out do you think Nike or somebody is like oh well you’re not a player anymore heres a shoe contract.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:34 am
56. then he didn’t do a good job of keeping it on the DL. Word is that Brian Brohm had at least one while at Trinity, but its been surpressed pretty well. Wrap it before you tap it DO
May 24th, 2010 at 11:34 am
Come and listen to my story bout a guy named Dan, a poor Oklahoman barely called himself a man. And then one day he was shootin at a hoop and up through the ground came a bubblin’ poop…Clyde that is…Billy Clyde. Well the next thing ya know old Daniel’s got a gig, playin’ for Kentucky but he acted like pig. He couldn’t block a shot without tending on the goal…thought himself a thoroughbred but was little better than a foal. He said Californy is the place I wanna be, so he escaped on the goat and said screw you Kentuckeee.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:34 am
First of all this is just a report and not a confirmation. So assuming this is true… I feel like an a$$ for defending him so much. If you drop out of school to train before the draft I think it’s a bad idea, but why lie about it too? Not only did he screw over the program but he lied about doing it too.
I’ll still support Orton in the NBA but but with a little more hesitancy than the other guys.
If it’s not true he’ll have my full support.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:34 am
I mean are we seriously surprised by this, really? He hated being at UK, he hated being behing Boogie, he is totally a BCG kinda guy! Goodbye and good riddance!
May 24th, 2010 at 11:36 am
59. (Mikee)
That was terrible. No more
May 24th, 2010 at 11:36 am
59 – Now that’s funny.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:36 am
48. BS… I’m sure that cheerleader will be able to scrape by with the help of her family for a couple months until Daniel and she start cashing big checks. Seriously… he totally blew it. Only way he should be accepted back by BBN is if he completely changes his attitude and starts contributing to the improvement of the program, like maybe coming back to talk to the freshmen every year about what a stupid decision he made. Short of that – he’s on the outs in my book.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:36 am
#51 I dont know just like you dont know that he failed or just received incompletes. Certain things happen in life that force a man to re-prioritize his goals. Does leaving campus in order to make yourself more eligible to get a high paying job in order to support a family make a person a bad guy or selfish?
May 24th, 2010 at 11:37 am
fail – plain and simple.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Shit I knew he wasn’t gonna finish when he took the first jet out to california with a month of the semester left
May 24th, 2010 at 11:38 am
59 – Very nice.
As disappointed as I am in this selfish kid, I hope no one sends him any disgusting messages on his facebook or twitter. Just let him fade away into the D League.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:39 am
What a slug!! The guy just never seemed happy at UK and obviously couldn’t wait to get out. I wish him well in the NBA sitting on the bench. But at least he’ll be making good money. I truly believe he would’ve made more next year with a FULL season under his belt and some offensive moves. Randolph Morris ansd Marquis Estill were better prepared, offensive skill-wise, than Orton. Estill never played in the NBA and Morris can’t get off the bench. These NBA execs don’t always get lottery picks right, Kwame Brown, Michael Olakandi, etc….
May 24th, 2010 at 11:40 am
65, bailing on the school that gave you a platform in the first place to get that high paying job is definitely selfish, when it ends up potentially costing the school a scholarship. It appears that Wall, Cousins, and Bledsoe were all able to stick it out and do what they needed in order to fulfill their end of the deal with UK.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:40 am
68 (Blackjack5)
Excellent point. People that leave hate messages on people’s Facebook walls are insane… especially when they don’t know them personally.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Man up and pay the University back for your wasted scholarship when you start earning the League Minimum!!! How are the NBA interviews about character going, scumbag? I’m never for bashing any Wildcat, but this clown never was a Wildcat, and I’m fine with that.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:43 am
The odds of having a bad apple out so many one and done freshman would have to pretty high.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:43 am
71. BS… if he’s man enough to make a decision like that, he should be man enough to take whatever criticism comes his way, in whatever way it comes. He will be making a lot of money as an entertainer / public figure – so he’s fair game at this point.
Seriously… I hope people complete blast him.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:44 am
Good thing Larry was in Lexington to give Daniel all of that good fatherly advice about you know, thinking of others, honoring your scholarship, honoring the university, learning life skills, not making a mockery of education. You know, that kind of stuff. Thanks Larry.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:44 am
After watching/reading Orton’s interviews at the NBA camp this weekend, hearing this news was to be expected. It’s obvious that the kid never really “got” it in the same way that Wall, Cousins and Bledsoe did. With hindsight being 20/20, it would have probably been best for all involved had he just gone to a different school. He didn’t help us win a National Championship, and his selfish act of dropping out of school is going to hurt us for years and years to come.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:44 am
^ ‘completely’
May 24th, 2010 at 11:46 am
56- You play, you pay. Its not that hard to make the right decision, and in this case he made the wrong one twice.
68- he doesn’t have a facebook page anymore, which is probably a good idea at this point.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:47 am
76 – Perish the thought! What would we have done without that robust 3.3 points a game?
May 24th, 2010 at 11:48 am
cant say that i’m suprised. his decision to go to the draft was misguided at best. i agree that decision(as well as not finishing classes) were heavily influenced by his father. i understand parents think their children are the best when it comes to sports but c’mon Mr. Orton, you really thought daniel was better than big cuz? How about being a REAL parent and tell your son to finish what he started. I wish daniel the best but he was a major disappointment, on and off the court. he abandoned his team when he walked off the court during the game. he should have never came out of the locker room.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:50 am
him and his dad need joint therapy.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:50 am
@danielorton33- People I KNOW that if I dropped outta school it would cost UK a scholarship. I’m not self-centered or a me person at all. I’m a team player.
@danielorton33- Thats why I didn’t. Your scholarship won’t be taken away for all you fans out there that need it so badly.
#wrongonpurpose #shitDanielOrtonsays
May 24th, 2010 at 11:51 am
I just think someone’s giving him some really bad advice…..Hopefully he’ll see the error of his ways and come back
May 24th, 2010 at 11:53 am
Wow! Note to self, never dissapoint any UK fan…about anything.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:53 am
He’s a young kid that made a poor decision… or a series of poor decisions. I’m sure one day he will look back and regret this, but I’m not sure I would have been able to make any better choices at 19. I made my share of bonehead moves.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:56 am
84 – You should also make a note not to constantly troll on other boards. Once in a while is OK. Doing it everyday makes you pathetic. I guess UCLA fans don’t give a crap about their university. Duly noted.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
83-HE CANT. We passed that deadline about 2 weeks ago. Not sure he was going to be welcome back anyway.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
funny thing is this will be used as a talking point that against calipari that he is unethical and does not care about the educational aspect of his players development, as well as further proof that Kentucky’s one and dones are not working in the classroom. but orton was a gillispie kid not cal’s
May 24th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
jr. at UK, gotta say its a pretty classless maneuver on Daniel’s part, the excuse that he’s only 19 seems to hold very little water, he knew what he was doing and in addition knew the ramifications of his actions. Would it have been to difficult to sit threw a few hours of intro level classes and stay and train on campus for a couple extra months, I think not. Hopefully everyone else stepped their game up in the classroom and this wont result in the loss of scholarships…
May 24th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Epic Fail, good luck and Good Riddance. Cringe if he makes it to the next level and announcers say, “Daniel Orton, from Kentucky.”
May 24th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
I would like to get through one post without reading #wrongonpurpose. It’s getting old and overused.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
84- i’d be more worried at that mess Howland has there in ol’ sunny side caleeforneia.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
OK I’m tired of people using his age as an excuse. 19 is plenty old enough to not make that dumb of a decision. I’m 22, and I know a lot better than that.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
I kind of feel sorry for Orton. A kid so selfish he doesn’t really enjoy his lone year of college is kid with poor guidance. I hope for his sake he can eventually grow up so that life can be enjoyable.
Also, good to see so many perfect Cat fans in this thread.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Very sad news if true. Still wish him the best.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
94- I’ve worked a few places in my life. At one of them you were divided into depts. To me it was like a team. Even though I could have, I never threw anyone under the bus. Daniele and his Dad have done so every chance they’ve had since the season ended. He has bad character, and apparently it comes from his dad.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Wow.
When this story first broke a couple of months back, I said it was an immature and selfish decision by Daniel to do this. I wasn’t going all Huskie Fan on him, but call a spade a spade. It’s selfish and shows no class to do this to a major university who gave you a chance with a questionable knee in the first place.
Then when he came out and said he WOULD be finishing his classes, I felt awful for criticizing him and jumping the gun, as we fans are known to do.
Now though? Good riddance. He may be a good person at heart and I have no reason to believe he isn’t, but this is a classless (no pun intended) decision that could have ended up leaving UK in a precarious position with a scholarship hanging on the line. For him to do this to the University and Coaching staff AND fans who gave him a chance and opened their arms up to him a year ago is pathetic. Go enjoy your money Daniel, just don’t bother coming around here no more.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
The real solution here would be to do away with the one-and-done rule and let kids try the NBA or other pro-sports opportunities if they want.
However, in the interim, I would like to see some way for universities to recoup the investment they’ve wasted on people like Daniel Orton who deprioritize education and knowledge so much that they blow thousands of the university’s dollars without delivering in the classroom.
UK should be able to sue this guy for his second semester tuition.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
94 – Perfect? No. Asking a kid to care half as much about the program as we do? Yes. Cat fans support players like no other fan base. All many of us ask is that the player think of the program half as much as we do. Orton thought of nothing but himself. If he or you can’t handle the passion, you both chose the wrong program.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
I’m not going to make any judgement on what kind of person Daniel Orton is – he is a very young man who lost his mother, his moral compass, so recently.
I do think that it is perfectly his fans should be questioning his decisions in a respectful way – and that seems to be what most of the discussion is.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
It’ll be real interesting to see what some of you have to say about Daniel Orton IF in the next couple of years he turns into a great pro and possibly even an All-Star. I wonder if you’d welcome him back in the summers if he wanted to come back and ‘gasp’ complete his classes, get his degree and play pick up with some of our players. I know its a big ‘if’ but I see the situation similar to Rondo. Good riddance when he left but now, he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
91.) #wrongonpurpose #wrongonpurpose #wrongonpurpose #wrongonpurpose
May 24th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
sucks..if the report isnt true though, gonna be alot of unnecessary bashing on this post
May 24th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
The NCAA and the University needs to make it manditory to finish a school year or pay back the cost of your education. Until this happens, the NCAA and the Schools get what they deserve. You can’t expect these players to do what you want them to do out of the goodness of their heart. The solution is simple and up to the schools to enforce. Daniel will grow up one day! Just not anytime soon.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
I’m going to let him off the hook because he lost his mother a year or so ago and is still too “tough” to open up and let it out. I just hope he doesn’t struggle as a rookie and the “professional” adjustment that he’ll need to make next year. He has ALOT of growing up to do between now and then.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
I’m gonna withhold my comments until this is confirmed. Not doubting Matt
s source but I’dike to hear the whole story.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
They penalty for his actions! – Take away a scholarship from a walk-on. Way to pick on the guilty party NCAA!
May 24th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
I used to be against the facebook and twitter bashing, but I’m not now. There are enough adjustable privacy settings so these athletes don’t have to allow every single fan access to their pages. They can deny friend requests, not set up “fan pages”, and keep their internet networks limited to their friends/family/etc. If they want a self esteem boost by having 3000 friends on facebook at have thousands of twitter followers, they need to realize that this also allows people to speak their minds to them. If you allow internet connections with 3000, statistics 291 class will tell you (oops, I guess he didn’t make it to 200 level classes) there will be outliers who are hurtful and irrational. get used to it players, or stop opening up super internet pages.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
This is very disappointing, especially given that Orton goal tended nealry as many points per game as he scored. I think the numbers pretty much offset and he will go down as one of the lingering effects of the BCG project.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Orton is fast overtaking Azubuike as my least favorite recent UK player. UK should sue him for our scholarship money back, as a lesson for future recruits and to head off the ESPN stories.
I can’t say that a little part of me isn’t rooting for his 3.4pts per game to get exposed in the draft camps and him to go undrafted or get picked by the Clippers.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
I like Orton but obviously this is most disappointing. It kind of shows the immaturity of some of these kids. There should be guidelines in place to penalize these kids that don’t honor their commitment to the university. Something that will keep them focused on completing the semester even if they are going to go pro.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
110. Buike was screwed over by his Dad being a thief. How can you not like him? His family was in huge debt and did what he had to do.
Buike had no ill will towards the program just a dad in jail and a mom that couldn’t take care of herself financially
May 24th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
This is very dissappointing and I don’t totally blame DO, I place part of the blame on the system. How hard would it be for the NCAA or Universities to implement a stipulation in the scholarship that states that a player must complete the entire school year with a miminal GPA of no lower than 1.5 or the student-athlete pay back any and all monies that the university provided to that student-athlete. This may not change what DO did, but it would protect schools from blame on this issue.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
I thought education didn’t matter? why go to school if you’re about to make millions?
May 24th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Total DICK move on his part. I hope he has to go up against big CUZ and big CUZ stomps his ars on the court.
May 24th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
I have no feelings toward Orton and could not care less if he gets drafted or not.
Totally irresponsible behavior with no regard to the school that allowed him to disply his ability
to make millions. In other words…POS.
May 24th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
This is a shame, hope it doesn’t affect us down the road.
May 24th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
The way I see it, Bukie cost us 2 Final Fours. 1 – when he failed to score in OT in the “Patrick Sparks Shot” game and 2 – by leaving and going undrafted when all the 05-06 team really needed was an experienced 3 man. He could’ve stayed for his senior season and entered the NBA as a lottery pick with 2-3times the earnings potential, not bounced around the D league for 2 years.
Glad it worked out for him in the long run. But he’ll always be the guy that I blame the most for starting Tubby’s final long decline and costing us those games.
May 24th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
118. REALLY??? HE DID IT FOR HIS MOTHER YOU FOOL. So he “lost” a game??? Do you hate Fitch too???
May 24th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
To hell with Orton and his dad! If this hurts our APR I hope he blows his knee out again and again and again.
Congratulation’s Randolph Morris you are not my least favorite Wildcat anymore.
May 24th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Karma is a B!T(h, and DO will soon find this out. He come to UK, averaged 3 pts, 3 rbds, and 3 fouls per game, has the opportunity to leave and go pro based SOLELY on his TV exposure and media hype that Calipari and UK brought with the freshman class, last year, and he rubs it in UKs face. He was NEVER a team-first kind of guy. And it only makes sense now that Gillispie recruited him. Gillispie LOVED the selfish me-first type players (Legion, Liggins, and now DO). While Liggins attitude has changed with Cal, he fit the mold his first year.
He walked out of a game pouting, jumped ship as soon as he could, and then has the nerve to tell NBA scouts he was “hurt by UK fans reaction of him leaving early”. HE DIDNT EVEN FINISH CLASSES HERE!!! He come here, pouted bitched and moaned and averaged 3 pts/game and tehn bails out and potentially causing a loss of a scholarship. Hes a TOOL!!!
May 24th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
DOUCHE
May 24th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
119- His mom couldn’t have held on for another year for an extra 15mil or so? Tons of people deal with worse hardships. His dad made a good bit as a preacher/con man or whatever if I remember correctly. Take out a loan till your son hits his pay day, then youre set for life.
I understand why he says he did it, but that doesnt mean I can’t blame him for making a bad call and hurting the program.
I don’t really blame Randolph, he made it clear his head was in the NBA from day 1, he shouldve just went with Dwight Howard, he probably wouldve made more money. And guys like Carruth and Chiles were just wastes of life in general, hard to blame them for much. But this crap with Orton may end up topping it all if we lose scholarships.
May 24th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
If this turns out to be true, then good riddance, you are no longer welcome in BBN, Daniel.
The way this kid conducted himself this past season (walking, mid-game, into the locker room to show his disappointment/frustration) and his comments since the season’s conclusion (about finishing his classes from California–a complete lie, about his teammates, etc.) reveal some real character issues. I hope NBA scouts are taking note.
And to those who say “he’s only 19, he’s just a kid, we all make mistakes”….please. Not paying back your college loans represents a poor decision. Screwing the coach and institution that gave you an opportunity to pursue your dream (and free education) at THE premier college basketball program by handicapping the team for years to come, letting down your former teammates and a group of fans who supported you with their passion, energy, time, and money, is, in a word, b*tch.
Can’t wait to watch you goaltend a few more shots here in Korea’s KBL after you bomb out of the league in a couple years.
May 24th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
3 things I want to address: 1. I’ve never been a me first person. I came to UK bc I loved the fans. I care what they think of me.
2. I have a great relationship w ALL the coaches 3. Demarcus is a GREAT player and he made me better and he deserves all the praise and accolades he’s received
I actually believed this and had it saved it as a favorite tweet. What a joke
May 24th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
87 I know it was too late for him to come back to UK and finish it, what I meant to say is go back and get SOME type of degree…..Hopefully his dad will suggest it to him later down the road
125 if thats a true statement from him, then the majority is correct in saying…what they’re saying!
May 24th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
SAD, he more or less used the University and didn’t have enough respect to finish one year. Thats what is normally called a QUITTER !
May 24th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
ironic that everyone focuses on Cuz’s maturity and “issues”. meanwhile, DO doesn’t finish school, bad mouths his teammates (what he said about Cuz at the Combine was a low blow), stomps out of the huddle at the SEC tournament, etc.
i hope GM’s look at 1) how short he is for a 5 man, 2) his total lack of production (Cal gave him an equal chance as Cuz to contribute, he’s just half the player), 3) and his obvious maturity issues. while I don’t wish him any ill will, I’d like to see him drafted in the 2nd round and have to work to make a team.
he needs some humility.
May 24th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
118, Buike didnt cost us the MSU game. Rondo did by being a ball hog and not passing it inside to Chuck Hayes for a 2…something that had worked all game. Rondo was a freshmen pg tryin to win it himself and that cost us the game. Gerarld Fitch didnt hit the shot against UAB, so do you hate him too? Regardless, Orton is officially lower than Randolph Morris. And Big Cuz may never get his chance to bang on Orton cuz Orton may end up the NBDL or another country. And if that happens…then oh well. It’s called karma. I wonder what his mom would think about all this. She seemed like such a sweet lady. I dont think she’d be happy with the way her husband and son have handled themselves.
May 24th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Fitch put in his 4yrs and gave it his all except for maybe the turmoil year, nothing to hate on. Leaving early when he could’ve gone lottery as a senior is why I don’t like Bukie, not his “Jane” play in the MSU game, even if he cost us that game, stuff happens. Although I do remember that’s the way he chose to go out.
May 24th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
I don’t understand all the bashing here. This is not going to have any adverse affects on UK. He didn’t finish class; we all knew he would not. The reasons he has for his decisions are his and his alone. Surely we can allow for others to conduct their lives as they see fit when there is no victim without personal attacks. Let’s not make the same mistake some Washington fans are making. This could have been bad, real bad if they all had made this decision but they didn’t; had they the process would be to blame not the individual. Sorry Daniel best of luck to you young man in all endeavors.
May 24th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
131, his dad was in jail and they needed money. him leaving and going pro is no different than eric bledsoe this year who Matt Jones and them have stated that he is for financial reasons. it’s part of the game. i wished he woulda stayed too, but he had to put his family first. meeks left a year early when he shouldnt have…do you hate him? uk woulda won the championship if meeks stayed…but still cant hate a kid for making his decision. 132, nobody is mad about Orton goin pro…it’s the manner in which he has handled everything…like not finishing classes and hurtin the program when he said he would not do that. that’s a little different than the UW and Jones situation.
May 24th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
You guys think this will be the LAST time this happens? Get used to it.
May 25th, 2010 at 12:23 am
123. you’re still a fool…
You can’t just “take out a loan”…What planet do you live on?
Husband in jail and little to no income stream? OH GREAT you’re approved! how much do you want?
Family first.
“hurt the program” my ass, you’re dellusional.
May 25th, 2010 at 1:25 am
it’s a shame…the last mock draft I looked at didn’t have DO in the first round…Randolph Morris??? (at least he came back after “testing” the waters…)…could be he has an overinflated opinion of himself, or someone is feeding him bad information about his draft stock (heard that before)…he really could have used another year at school (not just to benefit the BBN and UK’s lineup for 2010-2011…) to showcase his talents and add maturity…it’s odd that when he and Patrick worked out on the West Coast prior to the start of last season that Patrick didn’t rub off on DO as far as the off-the court stuff (i.e going to class)…I hope I’m wrong and the kid gets drafted in the lottery..but as of now, I don’t see it…Randolph Morris all over again…
May 25th, 2010 at 11:04 am
Its sucks, but lets get over it and wish him good luck.