Thanks are due to Mike DeCourcy for staying on top of this story.  He writes today that Don Jackson, the attorney for Renardo Sidney who is handling his case with the NCAA over eligibility, is unhappy with Mississippi State for, as he put it, “abdicating it’s obligation to protect the interests of their student-athletes.”  Citing instances of MSU officials failing to assist his office in moving things along, he places the blame for Sidney’s continued status in limbo squarely on the athletic department’s foot-dragging in this matter. 

Renardo Sidney: Do Not Fold, Spindle or Mutilate

Clearly Jackson is attempting to assign blame on anyone but himself for failing to make his client eligible to play this season, but what would you do if you were Greg Byrne, the Mississippi State athletic director?  When he approved the recruitment of Sidney by Rick Stansbury last summer, it was undoubtedly a strategic play that he believed could result in a Final Four appearance for a talented Bulldog team.  The thinking probably went along the same lines as most cost/benefit analyses do — make the risk assessment and then let the findings inform a decision tree with respect to how to pursue Sidney’s eligibility.  If there was no chance of Sidney ever becoming eligible, MSU wouldn’t have given him a scholarship in the first place (see: UCLA and USC).  But they had to believe that there was a fighting chance that they could get him on the court this year with the NCAA’s blessing, or they wouldn’t have offered him the scholarship. 

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Lance Stephenson Cleared at UC.  The big news of today was that Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin told the media that star recruit Lance Stephenson, a 6’5 guard who has been dubbed “Born Ready” (or “Almost There” in recent vintage), will in fact be ready to play for the Bearcats this season.  Similar to the John Wall situation a week ago, there were lingering concerns over his eligibility with respect to who was paying for Stephenson’s unofficial campus visits.  Apparently, he was, as the NCAA ruled just before UC’s exhibition game tonight that Stephenson is eligible to play immediately.  This news of course boosts Cincinnati’s standing in the Big East, as the Bearcats not only return a solid core, but also add Ibrahima Thomas (transfer from Oklahoma State) and Cashmere Wright (injury) to the fold in addition to Stephenson.  UC’s first regular season game is on Nov. 16 against Prairie View A&M.

Indiana Freshman Also Eligible.  In much less impactful but still important news, Indiana freshman center Bawa Muniru was also cleared to play immediately.  The 6’11, 260-lb player from Ghana who spent the last two years playing high school ball in the US is eligible immediately.  He will provide much-needed depth to the Indiana frontcourt.