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LSU Slapped With 1-Year Probation, Loses 2 Basketball Scholarships For '88
The NCAA has placed the LSU basketball program on probation for one year and has stripped the school of two basketball scholarships after finding nine violations of NCAA regulations.
LSU will still be eligible for the postseason playoffs and television coverage, and Chancellor James Wharton said last Wednesday (Dec. 3) that the university will not appeal the NCAA's decision.
Overall we're pleased with the outcome of the NCAA investigation." Wharton said. "'However, we regret that the NCAA took away two basketball scholarships. This seems a stern penalty for the violations cited."
LSU attorney Mike Pharis said that he will ask for a better explanation concerning next year's scholarships. The Tigers now have 14 athletes on scholarship, including three high school seniors who have already signed to play next year. With 15 scholarship players allowed by the NCAA and LSU losing two of those, one of the 14 may have to go, Pharis said.
"We plan to talk with the NCAA about that," Pharis said. "We're just not sure."
After an investigation that lasted for more than three years, last month the NCAA cited LSU for 16 violations, 13 of which were disputed by the university.
The NCAA found LSU guilty of nine violations, ranging from athletic director Bob Brodhead's attempt to eavesdrop on NCAA investigators to irregularities between boosters and players.
LSU may issue only two new basketball scholarships next year instead of the six normally allowed, the NCAA said. But the total number of scholarships was reduced by only two, from 15 to 13.
Further penalties may be handed out unless LSU bars the booster activities of at least one Baton Rouge businessman, the NCAA report said.
Lanter Paid Price To Play At Kentucky
Versailles Native Gave Up Glory Elsewhere
A lot of athletes have paid a heavy price to play basketball at the University of Kentucky.
Many have surrendered fame and glory elsewhere for the honor of wearing a Kentucky uniform.
That's particularly true of Bo Lanter. probably one of the most unheralded, yet one of the most talented, players ever to suit up in a Wildcats' uniform.
Everywhere you go, when you hear people talking about Lanter. it's always in wonder of what kind of college basketball career he could have had elsewhere, or what would have happened if he had
Mel Holbrook
Cats' Pause Columnist
seen more playing time at UK.
A native of Versailles, the Woodford County setting famous for A.B. "Happy" Chandler, Gov. Martha Layne Collins and current home of former National Basketball Association star Dan Issel and UK head coach Eddie Sutton, Lanter made the UK team as a walk-on in 1979, earning a scholarship in the process. He played three varsity seasons.
"It was the most unbelieveable feeling in the world," said Lanter of playing at UK. "I was honored, very thankful. Fans from across the country have made Kentucky basketball what it is. It's unbelieveable."
Lanter Took Detour On Road To UK
Lanter starred at Woodford County, where he earned All-State honors in 1977 before choosing to play at one of nation's top NAIA schools. Midwestern State of Wichita Falls, Texas. He averaged 21 points per game at Woodford County, once scoring 39 points in a game, and earned All-American honors at Midwestern State, averaging 23 ppg.
But Lanter always wanted to play at Kentucky and, after one season in football country, decided he would try to make the UK squad as a walk-on. But he impressed then-head coach Joe Hall so much Hall offered Lanter a scholarship after Bo sat out the required one season under NCAA guidelines.
"They laughed at me at Midwestern State when I left to try to make it at UK," said Lanter. "They said I was good, but not good enough to play for them. I guessed you could say I proved them wrong."
The odds were against Lanter when he returned home. UK hac a strong unit of guards that included All-American Kyle Macy. Truman Claytor. Dwight Anderson and Jay Shidler in 1978-79. The next season, Macy was back for his senior year and Shidler came on strong, leaving little room for Lanter or freshman sensation Dirk Minniefield. The next season, sharpshooting star Jim Master began making a name for himself. All were prep All-Americans. All were looked to ahead of Lanter.
"I was the star at Midwestern, and we were ranked number-one in the nation," said Lanter. "But I always gave 100 percent, like my dad always told me to do. My dad said when the ball hit the floor, it's mine. When I got to Kentucky, it was the same way. I always gave 100 percent. Except this time I was at the bottom looking up. People said here's Lanter. He doesn't get to play that much. But I was still giving 100 percent."
Lanter had good success at Kentucky, when he got to play. That was the problem, playing time. At UK, All-Americans sometimes ride the bench.
"I was always the type that when I got into situations when I was needed, I helped them," said Lanter. "I didn't want to go in when we were up by 30 points with two minutes to go. I wanted to be the one they relied upon in clutch situations. I went to coach Hall and told him that. The next game, we were up by 28 points at Florida with four seconds left, and he put me in."
Lanter Liked Clutch Situations
But Lanter usually got into games in clutch situations. "I'll never forget the first game I played," he said. "It was in 1980 against Notre Dame at Louisville. Dwight (Anderson) was no longer on the team. Dirk and Sam (Bowie) were on suspension. At the time, we were ranked either number one or number two and Notre Dame was about the same. The game was on national television. Coach Hall put
me in and told me not to force anything. My first time down the floor, I passed it to Kyle. He was double-teamed and passed it back to me. I shot it and the ball went in. The fans went crazy. We won, 86-80. That whole game was a dream come true for me."
Lanter got congratulatory phone calls from all over the country, including from his ex-teammates in Texas.
"That was exciting." said Lanter. "But the biggest thrill for me. emotion-wise, was the last home game of my senior year. I felt like the weight of the whole world was on my shoulders. But I ended up scoring 14 points and never missed a shot. It was incredible. With seven seconds left in the game, I wanted to take the last shot. But the in-bounds pass sailed over my head, and Mississippi State got the ball. They missed a shot, and I beat everyone else for the rebound. As I picked up the ball. I was at the top of the key and somebody grabbed my leg. I heard a whistle blow and thought 'What the heck' and threw the ball the length of the court toward our goal. It didn't hit anything but the bottom of the net about 70 feet away. I remember Sam Bowie and Chuck Verderber throwing their heads back and laughing. I was almost embarrassed it went in. It was funny. It didn't count, of course, because the whistle had blown."
Lanter found the season-ending losses tough to take, though. In 1979-80, UK went 29-6, losing to Duke University 55-54 at Rupp Arena in the NCAA Mideast Regional. "Kyle got fouled on that last shot he missed," said Lanter. The next season. Kentucky went 22-6. losing to Alabama-Birmingham 69-62 in the Mideast Regional
Bo Lanter Beat Odds To Play For UK
at UAB. "They were better than people thought," Lanter said.
But the most heartbreaking loss was in Lanter's senior season when Kentucky went 22-8 and lost to Middle Tennesee 50-44 in the Mideast Regional at Nashville. Lanter didn't get to play in that game, and it broke his heart.
"Nobody was playing well," he said. "I should have gotten a chance. I'm not saying I would have performed better than anybody else. But sometimes a coach needs to make a change to try to fix a situation. I was never so angry as I was after that game. We should never have lost to Middle Tennessee."
But Lanter has enough pleasant memories. And he's got more than his share of well-wishers. Even though he didn't play as much as others, Lanter is more popular than most of the former UK stars His 6-2, 180-pound frame is easily recognizable by many fans, and it doesn't hurt his popularity any now that Lanter lifts weights on
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