More trouble for 'Cats

Kentucky's Fitch, Daniels cited for using fake IDs

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Kentucky's embattled basketball team took another major hit Friday with the suspension of two players for using fake South Carolina driver's licenses to try to get into a local nightclub.

Coach Tubby Smith suspended sophomores Gerald Fitch and Erik Daniels indefinitely Friday, less than 24 hours after the two were cited for third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.

According to the citation, the two were caught about 12:40 a.m. trying to enter the Varsity Blue, a bar near campus. They were cited by police and scheduled to appear in court on March 25.

"We've had so many distractions this year, and this is one you just hate to see," a somber Smith said during a news conference to discuss the Wildcats' game with Arkansas on Saturday. "Although this is something that may go on other places, it will not be tolerated here.

"I've talked to each player and his parents. They all understand the consequences and that there may be further punishment."

Fitch, a starting guard from Macon, Ga., did not play in the Wildcats' last game, a 64-61 victory over Tennessee on Tuesday. He was suspended for the game after a scuffle with teammate Cory Sears on a flight from a loss at Georgia last weekend.

Fitch has been the team's most consistent player this season, averaging 9.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game before his earlier suspension.

Daniels, a key reserve from Cincinnati, has averaged 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in about 13 minutes per game.

Kentucky (18-7, 8-5 Southeastern Conference) was expected to challenge for a national championship this season. Chaos both on and off the court, however, has placed a dark cloud over college basketball's winningest program.

Distractions have been plentiful for the Wildcats this season and may have played a role in their erratic play as the season has progressed.

First it was Rick Pitino's return to Rupp Arena. Then Marvin Stone's transfer to bitter rival Louisville. Then an injury to senior guard J.P. Blevins that kept him out of the lineup for nearly five weeks.

Then came Smith's clashes with freshman sharpshooter Rashaad Carruth, who missed two games for disciplinary reasons, and junior guard Keith Bogans, who was benched for the final 18 minutes of a victory over LSU.

In addition to the suspensions of Fitch and Sears for Tuesday's game, Smith also had a confrontation with freshman guard Adam Chiles during the game and again benched Bogans for the final 17:50 against the Vols.

On Monday, Smith issued an ultimatum to his players that future distractions would result in significant penalties.

"You hate to say it publicly, but I'm not going to tolerate another disruption," he said Monday. "We've talked about this over and over and explained it to the players. Enough explaining. It's time to make changes.

"They're not going to be part of the team, whether it's a suspension for the year or they find another program."

Smith backed down from that stance Friday, saying that each case would be evaluated separately. He did say, however, that there's no guarantee that Fitch or Daniels will play again this season.

"Every incident is different," he said. "That's why I suspended them indefinitely, until I make some decisions about their long-term future in the program."

Smith questioned why the players would try to use fake IDs in a town where everyone knows exactly who they are.

"I've said all along that this is a very immature group ... you tell me how smart they are," Smith said. "Maybe we need to check those GPAs and SAT scores better."

Blevins and Tayshaun Prince, the only players made available for comment about the incident, said the loss of Fitch and Daniels puts even more strain on an already fragile team.

"I'm disappointed," Blevins said. "That's something that probably goes on everywhere. But when you wear a UK jersey, you have to know that you're under a microscope. You're seen all the time and everybody knows you.

"Erik and Gerald are great people. They just made a poor decision, and those types of things can't happen. It was just a dumb move on their part."

Prince said he expects the team to pull together for its final three regular-season games against the Razorbacks (13-12, 5-8), Vanderbilt and Florida.

"Things keep coming up and that just makes it harder and harder to put things behind us," he said. "This is just more adversity that we're going to have to overcome to get where we want to go."

Smith reiterated that both Fitch and Daniels are good people both on and off the court but showed poor judgment.

"I know where their hearts are -- they want to play basketball," Smith said. "But they want to have their cake and eat it, too, and you can't do that. This shows the lack of respect that they have for their teammates, for me and for the program. That's what's so disappointing.

"The biggest concern I have is trying to figure out a way to win this game and get the kids motivated and focused on basketball when their teammates, who are like family, are being punished and hurting the team because they are not there."

 

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