Memphis stripped of Final Four trip

LEXINGTON, Ky. — University of Kentucky men's basketball coach John Calipari will have 38 victories and a second trip to the Final Four stripped from his record after the NCAA ruled Thursday that Memphis — where Calipari coached before UK — must vacate the achievements of its 2007-08 season.

Memphis' wins and its 2008 Final Four appearance — it lost to Kansas in the final — will be stricken from the record as the result of major violations that occurred there, including playing an ineligible player, point guard Derrick Rose, whose SAT score was invalidated after the 2007-08 season.

Memphis also was found to have provided improper travel expenses for Rose's brother Reggie.

Though both violations occurred during Calipari's tenure, he was not named in any allegation the NCAA committee on infractions investigated.

Memphis President Shirley Raines said the school will appeal what she terms an unfair penalty.UGG boots

In a statement released on his Web site, Calipari said, “I'm very disappointed and disheartened by the NCAA's findings. I fully support the University of Memphis' appeal and until that process is carried through to its completion, I will have no further comments on the matter. I am anxious to coach the team at the University of Kentucky beginning this fall.”

UK officials have said that Calipari made them aware of the NCAA investigation at Memphis before they hired him.

UK President Lee Todd and athletic director Mitch Barnhart declined to comment through a spokesman.air max shoes

The SAT score that was originally ruled a qualifying score — and later was invalidated by the Educational Testing Service — was achieved in Detroit, more than 200 miles from Chicago, where Rose attended high school at Simeon Career Academy.

The committee on infractions did not investigate the circumstances of Rose's invalidated test, said Paul Dee, chairman of the NCAA committee on infractions, and did not accuse Memphis or Calipari of being complicit in the fraudulent score.rolex watches

Thursday's ruling marked the second time Calipari has had a trip to the Final Four vacated by the NCAA. His 1996 Final Four appearance at Massachusetts was stripped after center Marcus Camby was found to have had improper dealings with an agent.

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