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NCAA says no (again) to Kanter playing for Kentucky

ENES-KANTER3

Well, that’s it for Enes Kanter. No college basketball.

The Kentucky freshman was ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA. According to this release, the school’s initial appeal was denied on Dec. 2. Kanter was ruled ineligible (again) based on new information on Dec. 10. (If all this sounds familiar, that’s because it is familiar.)

That new information was essentially re-packing the previous appeal, but with a twist -- Kentucky hoped the odd decision regarding Cam Newton’s eligibility would play in Kanter’s favor. But the NCAA upheld that Kanter received “$33,033 above his actual and necessary expenses for one year while playing for a club basketball team in Turkey.”

So that’s it. No dribble-drive offense, no SEC play, no playing in Rupp. He can continue to receiver financial aid from the school and keep going to class, but no basketball. Perhaps there’ll be a lawsuit, but I wouldn’t hold your breath. There’s not much season remaining.

That leaves Kentucky without a true center for this season and a bench that John Calipari still doesn’t trust. Kanter would’ve been a significant boost in that regard, but that’s just playing with Kentucky fans’ emotions.

The Wildcats are still the cream of the SEC and remain a decent bet to reach the Final Four. But this could go down as one of the biggest “what if?” seasons in Lexington.

Want more? I’m also on Twitter @BeyndArcMMiller.