Bruce Pearl Boots Two of His Top Players

[tornado]

Due to repeated drug problems and violations....Duke Crews and Ramar Smith both dismissed.
This report says Crews failed at least FOUR drug tests, and Ramar Smith also has similar issues.

This is what the story says about incoming freshman Daniel West:
"would figure to benefit from Smith’s departure when West arrives on campus this summer..."
But no mention at all of any benefit to the other guy who plays some PG, Josh Tabb??

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2008/may/02/duke-crews-and-ramar-smith-not-return/

Ramar Smith has been in the news

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?p=80848#post80848

as has Duke Crews, caught smoking dope in the dorm room shared with Josh Tabb.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/sep/28/source-crews-suspension-linked-marijuana/

not the first time Bruce Pearl has had issues with dope and failed drug tests.

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?p=5252#post5252post5252

[Da Coach]

It looks like Bruce Pearl will use one of those scholarships to go after highly rated junior colege point guard Bobby Maze. Maze had committed to Gary Williams and Maryland in December, 2007, but in a recent move, Williams revoked the scholarship with no explanation. The reports are that he is not on track to graduate from junior college, but that hasn't stopped college recruiters, since he can realy score.
He played his freshman season at Oklahoma, but was dismissed from there after 1 season, and landed at Hutchinson JC where he was a Juco All American.
He was also kicked off his high school team because he didn't go to classes.

http://www.hoopsreport.com/news/hoopsnews/tennesseeoffersjucopointguard

It seems even Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall is interested--

http://blogs.kansas.com/shockwaves/2008/04/22/bobby-maze-and-wsu/

Here is an old article about him getting kicked off Oklahoma's team after 1 year there.--

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/article.aspx?articleID=070425_2_B1_hSour20451

[tornado]

Bruce Pearl's #1 rated recruiting class of 2006, which included Ramar Smith, Duke Crews, plus Marquis Johnson, Wayne Chism, and Josh Tabb
has now turned out to be darned near a BUST!
Smith, Crews, Johnson are all dismissed.
Josh Tabb barely plays and is being recruited over,
and Wayne Chism is the only one giving any good minutes, and he's only averaging 9 ppg
and nearly four fouls per game and only a 50% rate at the FT line.
It'll be interesting to see how the loss of Buzz Peterson's best recruit, Chris Lofton, affects them next year.

ps-- Eastern Illinois also just sent one player packing....Bobby Joliff, 6-8 center
EIU has 5 incoming players, looks like they are trying to rebuild.

[tornado]

News sources seem to be confirming that failed drug tests were the reason for the dismissals

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-now-crewsupdate0503,0,3023854.story

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2008/may/03/crews-wont-blame-anyone-but-myself/

http://tnjn.com/2008/may/03/players-forced-pearls-hand/

But both Crews and Smith are good athletes, so despite the issues, watch the feeding frenzy to see where they transfer.
I can already imagine a few coaches who are digging for their cell phones.....


But UT is sounding more and more like IU with the recruits apparently running the show and only getting booted when they fail so many drug tests that dismissal becomes mandatory.
NOTE--- that based on their recent experience, that Tennessee even changed their athletic code and policy (3rd link above), and increased the number of allowable failed drug tests this season....and still these guys reached the mandatory threshold.
Now they are reportedly going after Bobby Maze who also has a lot of issues, and still needs several credits to qualify.

[Bravesfan]

News sources seem to be confirming that failed drug tests were the reason for the dismissals

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-now-crewsupdate0503,0,3023854.story

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2008/may/03/crews-wont-blame-anyone-but-myself/

http://tnjn.com/2008/may/03/players-forced-pearls-hand/

But both Crews and Smith are good athletes, so despite the issues, watch the feeding frenzy to see where they transfer.
I can already imagine a few coaches who are digging for their cell phones.....


But UT is sounding more and more like IU with the recruits apparently running the show and only getting booted when they fail so many drug tests that dismissal becomes mandatory.
NOTE--- that based on their recent experience, that Tennessee even changed their athletic code and policy (3rd link above), and increased the number of allowable failed drug tests this season....and still these guys reached the mandatory threshold.
Now they are reportedly going after Bobby Maze who also has a lot of issues, and still needs several credits to qualify.

I was going to say that Pearl finally laid down the law. But his problem is he recruits these types of "projects" that may be talented but bring with them quite a lot of baggage.

One thing is for certain though. Somewhere, Jimmy Collins must be applauding!

[tornado]

Yup, Bobby Maze has signed with Tennessee, so Bruce is going to take another chance...

http://scouthoops.scout.com/2/753113.html

remember...Tennessee already has SERIOUS issues with academics, and just got nailed by the NCAA with the loss of a scholarship for failure on the recent APR report.

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=7#s=7&f=1398&t=2451156

"Tennessee's basketball program loses ONE SCHOLARSHIP"

http://www.bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8390