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News Nuggets, 01.18.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Memphis basketball rocked by academic casualty

Memphis has lost one of its best basketball players as a result of academic problems.

U of M head coach John Calipari announced at a press conference that sophomore forward Sean Banks will be ineligible to play and would not be in school the second semester because he did not meet minimum academic eligibility requirements set by the school and the NCAA.

"As excited as I was and as good as I felt about (former Tigers guard) Antonio Burks, that's how bad I feel about this young man," said Calipari on Sunday. "Sean called me because he wanted to meet with the media and talk about this."

Banks, a preseason Wooden and Naismith awards nominee, was contrite and indicated a desire that the development would serve as a lesson to other student athletes to take their studies seriously.

"I'm sorry that I let my teammates, coaches, Coach Calipari, the University and the City of Memphis down," said Banks. "The situation I am in is my own fault. I slacked off at the beginning of last semester and thought I could make it up at the end, but I was unable to do it. I want to thank my teammates and coaches for their support.

"I just hope I can be an example for other players in college and high school that you can't do it this way. Maybe they will learn from my mistakes.

"I am going to take classes somewhere and hopefully get eligible again. I have enjoyed playing basketball at Memphis and will not play for any other college. I also want to continue to work out and keep in playing shape."

Banks played in 16 games this season, averaging 14.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Compiled form a Memphis Athletics reports.

Associated Press basketball poll

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, record, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:

(Poll released Jan. 17, 2004. Conference USA team, including future members, and Carolinas teams in bold; East Carolina opponents in red.]

 1. Illinois (58) 18-0 1,759 1
 2. Kansas (13) 13-0 1,710 2
 3. Wake Forest 15-1 1,612 4
 4. Duke Blue 13-0 1,525 5
 5. Oklahoma State 13-1 1,442 6
 6. North Carolina 14-2 1,439 3
 7. Syracuse 17-1 1,407 7
 8. Kentucky 12-2 1,267 9
 9. Boston College 14-0 1,154 13
10. Washington 15-2 991 14
11. Gonzaga 13-3 876 16
12. Georgia Tech 11-4 867 8
13. Arizona 14-3 841 17
14. Louisville 14-3 788 19
15. Texas 13-3 778 10
16. Connecticut 10-3 734 12
17. Mississippi State 15-3 669 11
18. Oklahoma 13-2 511 25
19. Michigan State 10-3 500 15
20. Cincinnati 14-2 442 18
21. Pittsburgh 12-2 419 20
22. Alabama 13-3 383 23
23. Iowa 13-3 222 24
24. Wisconsin 12-3 209 NR
25. Marquette 14-2 145 22

Others receiving votes:

George Washington 54, UCLA 49, Texas A&M 37, Miami (FL) 30, Charlotte 29, Florida 27, Maryland 27, Utah 24, Southern Illinois 22, Notre Dame 18, Pacific 15, Texas-El Paso 12, Oregon 10, North Carolina State 6, Vermont 6, Western Michigan 6, Old Dominion 5, Massachusetts 4, Nevada 2, Bucknell 1, St. Mary's (CA) 1.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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