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Courier Journal

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky basketball players defended the Wildcats' program when asked about the FBI investigation into college basketball recruiting on Thursday.

Some, but not all, even expressed sympathy for in-state rival Louisville, the program that placed coach Rick Pitino on administrative leave for its involvement.

“We don't have nothing to worry about," Kentucky freshman guard Quade Green said at UK media day Thursday. "None of us are in it. We did everything the right way, and that was that. And we came here because of the right things.”

The FBI has not contacted Kentucky, the school told the Courier-Journal last week. The NCAA has not reached out, either, coach John Calipari said Thursday.

Kentucky players said they didn't need illegal recruiting tactics to choose the Wildcats. Sophomore forward Sacha Killeya-Jones pointed to pictures of current NBA players (there were 25 former Wildcats on NBA rosters last season and three were selected in the first round of the NBA draft in June) and the eight championship banners hanging in Kentucky's practice gym as proof.

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"All those dudes right there, those banners over there and 25,000 people (expected for Big Blue Madness on Friday) is why we came here," Killeya-Jones said. "There's nothing like it in the country."

Kentucky freshman guard Hamidou Diallo said, "we don't have to worry about any of that stuff. We're just worried about playing basketball and being on the floor and bringing it every day and trying to play until that last game in March."

That's good for the Wildcats, who will attempt to reach a fifth Final Four in Calipari's ninth season. That's a goal many predicted Louisville could achieve heading into what was supposed to be Rick Pitino's 17th season.

The University of Louisville Athletic Association moved to fire the Hall of Fame coach the day after a 28-page criminal complaint filed by the FBI alleged that Adidas’ global marketing executive, James Gatto, and other defendants conspired with coaches at a university later identified as the University of Louisville to attempt to funnel $100,000 to the family of a player to secure his commitment to the university.

Louisville men's basketball assistant coach David Padgett was elevated to interim head coach last week.

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"It's definitely going to be very difficult for the players to have to go through it all, management changes and all that kind of stuff," Kentucky redshirt sophomore Tai Wynyard said. "There's a lot to deal with for the players. That's what's mostly on my mind, what the players are going to have to do."

Kentucky and Louisville play Dec. 29 at Rupp Arena. Kentucky has won eight of the 10 Calipari-era matchups against the Cardinals, including twice in the NCAA Tournament. Louisville won last season 73-70 in the KFC Yum Center.

"It's one of the bigger rivalries, so you want to see both schools be the best you can so you can see the best game you can see," sophomore guard Brad Calipari said. "Both schools and both fans and both coaches, it's a big state game. You do want to see that."

Killeya-Jones did not share Wynyard's or Calipari's sympathetic views.

"I didn't come here for Louisville," he said. "I came here for Kentucky. Louisville is just one game on the schedule. I think we got plenty of good teams to play this year that are at full strength. Not too worried about that."

Kentucky sophomore forward Wenyen Gabriel, who started against Louisville as a freshman last season, said he doesn't think the rivalry will be different this season.

"I know they have some good players, so they're still going to be a good team," Gabriel said. "I'm still expecting a big game."

The player the FBI investigation alleges was to be paid by Louisville has been identified as class of 2017 five-star forward Brian Bowen, who has hired an attorney to assist his attempts to regain eligibility.

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Wildcats' freshmen Jarred Vanderbilt, PJ Washington, Nick Richards, Quade Green and Kevin Knox played either with or against Bowen at the McDonald's All-American game in March.

Washington said he never saw that side of recruiting because his father, high school basketball coach Paul Washington Sr., helped him navigate the process.

"That never happened to me," PJ Washington said. "I was just not going to get involved in anything like that and my dad wasn't either. So I don't know about any of that, honestly."

Green said Kentucky's recruiting pitch is straightforward.

“If a five-star doesn't want to come here and get better against another five-star, then I don't know what to tell you when you get to the next level," he said. "Everybody at the next level is a five-star.”

That was enough to convince Diallo to enroll early in January. Having just completed his recruiting process less than 12 months ago, Diallo said he wasn't surprised the FBI was interested in college basketball recruiting. The details of the investigation, which was based on wiretaps, undercover agents and cooperating witnesses, didn't surprise Diallo, either.

"Growing up, when I hear FBI, I know they're capable of anything, so that's why it doesn't surprise me," Diallo said. "The FBI is serious, but I mean, it is what it is. I'm just glad I am where I am, and I did what I did to get here. I didn't take part in any of that, and I don't focus on any of that as well."