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Trey Lyles

Dr. Jones said:
How do you square that against UK being the 4th SEC school to have blacks join their teams? Why is it that UK is mentioned as the racists when they integrated before dozens of other schools around the country?
Answer is: because the media shovels it and we always buy it.
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You keep mentioning UK - I have no doubt in my mind there were AD's and school admins in the mid 60's at UK that wanted to integrate the team, what I've said and am saying is Adolph Rupp, who reported to NO ONE at UK at that time, was an out and out racist. Forget about the media. Read direct quotes from Butch Beard and Wes Unseld. The latter of which would have given UK a National Championship in 66 if he was on the team and none of this UTEP stuff would have ever been an issue.
 
candrew said:
You keep mentioning UK - I have no doubt in my mind there were AD's and school admins in the mid 60's at UK that wanted to integrate the team, what I've said and am saying is Adolph Rupp, who reported to NO ONE at UK at that time, was an out and out racist. Forget about the media. Read direct quotes from Butch Beard and Wes Unseld. The latter of which would have given UK a National Championship in 66 if he was on the team and none of this UTEP stuff would have ever been an issue.
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If you are sincere about being objective, start here. https://www.hearstfdn.org/hearst_journalism/competitions.php?type=writing&year=2006&id=10

Or don't.
 
Dr. Jones said:
Allow me.

Candrew is referring to the first ever matchup of an all white starting lineup (UK) vs an all black starting line up (Texas Western).

I could write volumes on the topic. What media fails to mention is UK recruited a black player (which was valedictorian of his senior HS class) before 3/4 of the rest of the SEC ever did.
1966 was right when the civil rights movement came into full swing.
This should have never become a UK thing as much as a southern thing. Racism being real is undebatable, but the media making it as if UK was some holdout is crazy.

Here's a crazy fact. Guess who UK had to beat to make it to the Texas Western game? Duke.
Had Duke beaten UK, history would show Duke as the first all white starters vs Texas Western.

Again, I could write for days about this.
I would blame the time period for the rampant racism, I would blame UK boosters for demanding white players, fans that didn't really want blacks... It was bad. But it was bad all across the country and particularly the south.

What most people don't know is Rupp was a scapegoat. The true story is juicier. Rupp repeatedly asked to offer schollies to blacks before the '66 season. But boosters threatened to pull funds from the university if the athletic department allowed it... So Rupp was denied. So it's really more a story of a sad period in this country and not a story about one evil dude.
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Excellent post but Rupp said many racist things. He was not completely innocent when it came to not having black players at UK.
 
cowhide said:
Excellent post but Rupp said many racist things. He was not completely innocent when it came to not having black players at UK.
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I'd venture to say that nearly 90% of the south was still racist in the 60's. I'm not sure what point that makes. I never denied the racism. I explained that most everyone was guilty. I just question why Rupp deserves to be singled out.

Having said that, most quotes are partials..
Using Candrew's example of Unseld and Beard, they are both directly quoted as saying Rupp recruited them hard, went to their high school games to watch, told them he would love to have them at Kentucky, but that the racism would make life hard on them... but that he would do everything within his power to protect them.

Again, I'm not denying the existing racism, I just think it's funny how James Garner (that directed Glory Road) readily admits he glorified the script to make it a controversial film. He is quoted, "If this were a documentary, it would be a feel good story, but that's not what we're going for here." He also admits the quotes and story lines are exaggerated and even fabricated for theatrical entertainment.

I do truly wonder how the media would have portrayed Duke had they beaten UK and lost to Texas Western. In 1966, Duke had also never played a black player. Interesting to think about.
 
b_line said:
Is trey lyles gonna be any good?
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He'll play. I never thought he'd ever be like a steal or anything, but he will be a good all around utility guy. If he gets his 3 shot back (like he had in HS) he will be a high value.
 
I view Trey Lyles as a potential Taj Gibson level of talent kind of guy. Not similar players but just solid guys who can come in and make a solid contribution.
 
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