¢ The NCAA today is expected to issue a statement declaring once and for all freshman Brandon Rush is eligible to play at Kansas University.
Sources say this week the organization uncovered a violation involving Rush’s relationship with an agent as he prepared to enter the NBA Draft following his second season at Mt. Zion Academy.
Upon learning of the situation- that, without Rush’s knowledge, an agent had been discussing Rush’s status with NBA teams – sources said KU on Thursday declared Rush ineligible. On Friday, sources close to the NCAA said he was reinstated and would not only play today, but be eligible the rest of the season.
“Rush had no knowledge any agent was speaking on his behalf,” a source told the Journal-World late Friday night. “He’s eligible to play.”
¢ KU leads the all-time series, 170-88. KU has won 31 straight games versus the Wildcats. The last KU loss was a 68-64 decision Jan. 17, 1994, in Allen Fieldhouse.
¢ Jim Wooldridge is 0-12 versus KU; Bill Self is 6-0 against K-State, 5-0 as KU coach.
¢ Lawrence High graduate Mark Frederick is a walk-on player for the Wildcats. He’s 6-foot-5, 195 pounds, and is the son of former KU athletic director Bob Frederick.
¢ The loss at NIU marked the sixth loss in eight overtime games under Wooldridge. The team has 40 single-digit losses in the Wooldridge era, including 21 by five points or less.
¢ Three of Kansas State’s four losses have been by five points or fewer. KSU has fallen to Iowa State (72-70), Washington State (58-57) and Northern Illinois (75-70, OT). The Wildcats have dropped 46 games in Wooldridge’s six seasons by 10 points or less, including 25 of those on the road.
¢ Earlier this season, Cartier Martin became the first Wildcat to register 20 or more points in the first three games since Willie Murrell did it to start the 1963-64 season. He narrowly missed joining Bob Boozer (1958-59) as the only Wildcat to score 20 or more points in the first four contests with 17 points against Cal State Fullerton.
¢ The Wildcats, who fell, 72-70, to Iowa State, rallied from a 64-51 deficit with 6:30 left, closing the gap to 70-69 at :48. David Hoskins had 25 points in that game in Ames, Iowa.
¢ Kansas State’s 57-42 loss Wednesday to Nebraska snapped the Wildcats’ 11-game homecourt winning streak.
¢ KSU has started the same lineup the last four games. Dramane Diarra, Lance Harris, Cartier Martin, David Hoskins and Clent Stewart have a combined 126 career starts.
