The UT Basketball Case Gets Even More Weird

Thompson-Boling-Alcatraz (Image: Ross O.)

As we mentioned last week, four Vols were arrested and charged with various weapons, drugs and booze related charges. The intriguing part of the case involves the vehicle in question. It's a rental car purchased from Enterprise Rental Car originally rented in North Knoxville (Clinton Road). The Illinois license plates are irrelevant as it's a rental car.

According to published reports and arrest information, the players apparently admitted that they knew the guns were in the car. Most bizarre...the players say they went to Nashville to pick up the car (not from the rental car company but from another person).

Ok. Here are my questions.
1. Why do you drive 4 hours to borrow a rental car...that you allegedly know has guns in it.

2. If you have a car that can get you to Nashville, why do you need to borrow another car?

3. Why do four people need to drive to Nashville to pick up a rental car from someone? Isn't that a solo operation?

This entire thing stinks to high heaven. In case you are wondering, these four kids combine to average 32.4 points, 14.7 rebounds and 8 assists per game. Said differently, that's 39.8% of their points, 38.9% of their rebounds and 46.5% of their assists per game.

At UGA in this same scenario, they would be looking at mandatory minimum suspensions of 10% of the season for the drugs. In other words, 3 games on the bench (Charlotte, Kansas and Auburn). The weapons charges add a unique level of complexity because of the reported filed off serial numbers. No idea how UGA would deal with that aspect of this. It'll be interesting to watch how this unfolds.

For us to benefit from this in any meaningful way, we need a 6 game suspension. That would carry them through the Jan. 23rd match-up in Athens. Additionally, we could benefit if more bad news came out as Pearl is absolutely kicking our ass when it comes to recruiting in the State of Georgia.

See Also:
-- UT AD: "Tolerance has gone to Zero" - ESPN
-- Bruce Pearl says his team "has a lot of weapons." - SportingNews
-- Investigation centers on rental car owner - Knoxville News
-- Potential Identify of the Car Renter - WBIR
-- The worst case scenario - Maryville News

PWD