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NCAA probe hitting home with two Bluegrass 'Cats
John Pelphrey: It's us against the world
Deron Feldhaus and John Pelphrey won't play their first basketball game for Kentucky until next month.
However, no one on the UK team understands the value of Kentucky basketball more than the two red-
		
		Larry Vaught
		Cats' Pause Columnist
		
shirt freshmen.
Pelphrey was the state's 1987 Mr. Basketball at Paintsville while Feldhaus was a standout at Mason County. Both played in the state tournament, earned All-State honors and dreamed of playing for UK.
That's why the 18 allegations the National Collegiate Athletic Association has filed against UK troubles the two in-state products so much.
"I don't want to say Kentucky basketball means more to us (in-state players) because it means a lot to every player here," said Pelphrey. "But those of us from in the state especially don't want to see UK's image tarnished.
"All the negative publicity UK has gotten really bothers me. I see all this as a challenge. None of us want to see UK go downhill while we are here. We want to keep Kentucky number one.
"I understand how people across the state feel. They wonder what's going on here. Kentucky's players and fans are like a big family and this is hurting all of us."
Feldhaus, expected to be one of UK's starters at forward this year, is glad the additional NCAA allegations were finally made public last Saturday. The wait for the bad news had been as hard on the players as any practice UK Coach Eddie Sutton made them endure last year.
"I wanted to know what was going on and now we at least know something," said Feldhaus. "I've been around Kentucky basketball all my life and this program really means a lot to me. I just don't think you could grow up in Kentucky and not understand just how special UK basketball is to people.
"We can't let this NCAA investigation doom our whole year. We can't do anything about what has happened. We have to put the charges behind us and worry about basketball."
That would be easier if sophomore Eric Manuel could play. However, he's been accused of cheating on his college entrace exam and volunteered not to practice until the matter is resolved. That means he could miss the season since UK doesn't expect to appear before the NCAA Infractions Committee until at least February.
"We were really depending on Eric," said Feldhaus. "We were going to build our team around him.
"I was totally shocked when I found out he couldn't practice. I really hurt for him because he's such a great guy. About all he can do now is try to keep his head up but I know that's not easy to do.
"I hope he can play. If he can't, somebody is going to have to take the shots and make the plays Eric would have. He was going to be our big-play guy."
Pelphrey knows UK can't afford to count on Manuel's return or feel sorry for all that has happened since the 1987-88 year ended.
"It's sad to see a player of Eric's stature denied a chance to play," said the former Paintsville standout. "In life your now always asked what cards you want. You have to play the hand you have.
"We've had a lot of adversity but we can't change any of it. We have to adapt, improvise and overcome.
We have to find something good in this and go on.
"If we sit back and feel sorry for ourselves, we will really be in bad shape. People we play are going to want to beat us and they won't care why we are short-handed. It's us against the world this season."
Most preseason basketball publications had Kentucky picked fourth or lower in the Southeastern Conference this year. And that's before Manuel's status was thrown into limbo.
Pelphrey and Feldhaus, though, think it would be a mistake to already write off the Wildcats.
"A lot of schools would love to have the players we do," said Pelphrey. "We do have a lot of guys who have not had a chance to play. But that doesn't mean they can't play.
"We are going to have to listen to what the coaches say and really practice hard. However, we all have a burning desire to win. We are anxious to get a real taste of college basketball and show people that we can play."
Pelphrey hopes to keep 'Cats on target
MATT WENSTROM, a 7-0 center, was making his official visit to UK when 17 additional NCAA allegations were made public by Kentucky. However, the Texas prep standout said the timing didn't hurt UK's chances of signing him.
"Really I'm glad I was able to be here when the allegations were announced," said Wenstrom, who is ranked as one of the nation's top 50 high school players. "I was shocked when all this first broke about Kentucky because Kentucky had never done anything like that with me."
Wenstrom has known UK assistant coach Dwane Casey for three years. That's one big reason he visited Kentucky along with North Carolina, UCLA, Villanova and North Carolina State. He's also friends with guard Jeff Brassow of Houston, who announced last week he would sign with Kentucky in November.
"Jeff's decision really won't play a big role in my plans," said Wenstrom. "If he hadn't picked Kentucky, it would not have been a demotion for Kentucky in my mind. Since he did pick UK, I can't let that really influence my decision.
"Our games do blend well together but you have good players at almost every school. You have good players at Kentucky now."
Just how many more good players UK can sign this year or next because of the current NCAA investigation, though, remains a big question mark. That's one reason Brassow's recent announcement came as a surprise to most college basketball recruiting experts.
"A major obstacle we are having to overcome is all the negative publicity we have received," said UK assistant James Dickey. "It's amazed me how well Coach (Eddie) Sutton has handled this. He's been the one to bring up the NCAA investigation in every home we have visited.
"He has laid all the facts out. He hasn't speculated about this or that. He's just told the recruits and their families what is going on.
"Most of the homes we have been in we were well received. Once we actually had a chance to explain what was going on everyone felt better. So many families thought we had already been tried and convicted. But when we left the families had a much better feeling about our program and staff."
Wenstrom readily admits the NCAA probe will play a role in which school he signs with next month. However, he does feel UK has been honest with him.
"Through the whole recruiting process UK has been honest with me and that includes the NCAA investigation," said Wenstrom. "They have told me if worst comes to worst, and they don't believe it will, that I could transfer if I didn't feel comfortable.
"They have said they would let me leave and not cost me any eligibility if things don't go well with the NCAA. I don't have a problem with that because no one really knows what will happen. All I know is that all the stories I've read and heard are a lot different from what the coaches have told me. That's why I have not ruled out UK."
Wenstrom, a solid student as well as a gifted center, has enjoyed the recruiting process. He knows each school shows him the best of what it has to offer but he's made sure he has asked players and students at each school about problem areas.
"The best sources of information are the players or students," said Wenstrom. "That's why I try to talk to everyone I can when I'm on a visit. I want to know all I can about the school so I can make the best decision possible about my future."
THE CURRENT NCAA probe at Kentucky might temporarily end the UK-Louisville basketball series if the NCAA bans television appearances by the Wildcats as a result of the current investigation.
"Any time you're looking at a loss in (TV) revenue, you have to weigh that loss against whatever benefits you might receive," said Louisville Coach Denny Cram last week.
If the NCAA investigation of its 18 allegations against UK results in a ban on TV appearances by the Wildcats, U of L would have the freedom to schedule another TV game. The current contract calls for Louisville, UK and CBS-TV to all be in agreement to televise the game.
Cram, though, insisnts he's not advocating a suspension of the series.
"It's been a good series and I hope it continues," said Crum. "You hate to see anybody have the kind of problems they're having down. It's not good for the image of intercollegiate athletics anywhere."
This season's game is scheduled to be played either Dec. 31 or Jan. 1 in Freedom Hall, pending a decision by CBS Sports, which will work the game around the pro football playoffs.