Derrick Jasper

LEXINGTON - Even though he said nothing was "finalized" yet, Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie said Saturday that he expected guard Derrick Jasper to transfer. Gillispie first acknowledged on April 17 that Jasper was "homesick" and had talked to him about transferring to a school closer to his California home. While Gillispie did confirm that little-used freshman center Mike Williams had asked for his release so he could find a school where he might play more next season, the Kentucky coach would not confirm that Jasper had been granted his release.

Mike Pratt played a round of golf with the Clark County University of Kentucky Alumni Club during its annual scramble Friday at the Winchester Country Club. Pratt, who played at Kentucky from 1968-70 under Adolph Rupp, scored 1,359 points during his three-year career and played on three Southeastern Conference championship squads. Prior to hitting the links, Pratt, a color analyst on the Big Blue Network, shared his thoughts with members of the club. Entering his eighth season as a member of the school's radio network, he's still grateful for the opportunity to broadcast games at Kentucky.

Derrick Jasper endeared himself to many University of Kentucky basketball fans - as well as coach Billy Gillispie - with the way he came back from knee surgery to help UK's Southeastern Conference resurgence. However, Jasper's possible transfer from Kentucky because he's "homesick" and wants to be closer to his native California is bound to puzzle even the most die-hard Big Blue fan. Why does a player who played at less than 100 percent last season because of his knee and made such an impact now want to leave when he could have an even bigger role next season?

Derrick Jasper endeared himself to many University of Kentucky basketball fans - as well as coach Billy Gillispie - with the way he came back from knee surgery to help UK's Southeastern Conference resurgence. However, Jasper's possible transfer from Kentucky because he's "homesick" and wants to be closer to his native California is bound to puzzle even the most die-hard Big Blue fan. Why does a player who played at less than 100 percent last season because of his knee and made such an impact now want to leave when he could have an even bigger role next season?

LEXINGTON - From what Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie saw of Derrick Jasper this year, he thinks he could be an all-Southeastern Conference player during his junior season next year. However, there's one problem - Jasper has indicated to Gillispie that he might not be back at Kentucky next year. "He is a little homesick right now. He hasn't made any kind of decision, but we definitely need him over here," said Gillispie Thursday. Jasper played in 20 games last season and was limited physically because of knee surgery he had following his freshman season.

If he's right about what the future holds for Kentucky basketball, this will not be one of the winningest teams he will have. However, Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie says the way he views this season that ended with Thursday's loss to Marquette in the NCAA Tournament is a little different than he hopes to analyze future seasons. That's why he didn't hesitate when asked if he will always remember this team's play or not. "Absolutely I will remember this team," said Gillispie.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Sometimes there are surprises during a game that changes who wins. Other times there can be surprises off the court that might change a program's future. For Kentucky, there were no real surprises in the 74-66 loss to Marquette in the NCAA Tournament first-round game here. Sure, Joe Crawford was sensational with his 35-point performance and teammate Ramel Bradley somehow found a way to have another solid 19-point outing. But it really wasn't a huge surprise that two starters - Derrick Jasper and Ramon Harris - didn't score because they are each limited offensively.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Sometimes there are surprises during a game that changes who wins. Other times there can be surprises off the court that might change a program's future. For Kentucky, there were no real surprises in the 74-66 loss to Marquette in the NCAA Tournament first-round game here. Sure, Joe Crawford was sensational with his 35-point performance and teammate Ramel Bradley somehow found a way to have another solid 19-point outing. But it really wasn't a huge surprise that two starters - Derrick Jasper and Ramon Harris - didn't score because they are each limited offensively.

ANAHEIM - Billy Gillispie thought Kentucky would win more than 18 games his first year at Kentucky. However, he also never anticipated having Jodie Meeks, Derrick Jasper, Patrick Patterson, Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford all miss games with injuries. "If you would have said, 'You are going to have over 40 games missed by a really, really, really, really good players,' I would have said, 'How in the world are we going to make it in the tournament?'" Kentucky did make the NCAA Tournament, but it lost Thursday here to Marquette 74-66 in the first round to end Gillispie's first year.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Sometimes there are surprises during a game that changes who wins. Other times there can be surprises off the court that might change a program's future. For Kentucky, there were no real surprises in the 74-66 loss to Marquette in the NCAA Tournament first-round game here. Sure, Joe Crawford was sensational with his 35-point performance and teammate Ramel Bradley somehow found a way to have another solid 19-point outing. But it really wasn't a huge surprise that two starters -- Derrick Jasper and Ramon Harris -- didn't score because they are each limited offensively.