Kelly Wise has destroyed everything he worked so hard to create in his first three and a half years at The University of Memphis.
Wise, who was cleared by doctors to play, decided his “75 percent” right knee was not good enough to play in the most important game of his life, in the Conference-USA Tournament against Houston, and the complacent Wise doesn’t seem to care. That’s right...the team doctors told him his knee was good to go, and John Calipari practically begged him to play, but Wise decided to sit out the game, and, in effect, abandon his team when they needed him most.
What makes the situation even more unbelievable is that Wise was having a great season, perhaps the season of his life. During the 10-game winning streak he was untouchable, but since then he has been anything but.
They are good enough to be in The Big Dance, and the reason why Memphis isn’t in the NCAA Tournament right now, instead of the NIT, is solely because Kelly Wise had not heart, no drive and no will to compete.
Wise’s career stats are impressive, but that’s all they are, just stats. He is the 10th all-time scorer in U of M history, fourth in rebounds and fourth in blocks. His career C-USA stats are even loftier: ninth in points, first in rebounds, second in blocked shots and first in double-doubles. I guess it’s a good thing for Kelly that there is not a stat for heart and perseverance.
Wise was an obvious pick in the 2002 NBA draft, but his stock is, no doubt, falling as NBA scouts now see him not as a dominant scorer and imposing defender, but as a player that quit on his team.
Why couldn’t Kelly Wise have the heart of Kansas’ Kirk Hinrich?
Hinrich severely sprained his ankle after landing awkwardly on it during Kansas’ first-round game. He was immediately helped off the court and his ankle was heavily wrapped. A brace was strapped around it, and after the game was over Hinrich had to leave on crutches. But the next day, even though he could barely walk, Hinrich told his coach that he would be there for him; he could play.
Before the Houston game, Kelly Wise’s right knee, at 75 percent, was in much better condition than Hinrich’s ankle. But, by that time, Wise had already lost the desire to play, he had already lost the heart and even over a week later, he is still sitting out... he’s still “not ready to play.”
So fans should be upset that the Tigers didn’t get into the NCAA tournament. They should be mad that, arguably, the most talented collegiate basketball team in the country didn’t even make it into the NCAA tourney. You shouldn’t be upset with John Calipari though, and don’t be disappointed in the players... be mad at Kelly Wise.
For a player that has never played in the NCAA tournament, it is hard to imagine what could have happened to Wise that changed his attitude so drastically.
Maybe he is looking too far ahead to the draft, and in the process he has forgotten the team...forgotten his teammates...forgotten the fans.
But the fans will never forget.
