Indiana Redacts Ratliff From Transcript

The Indiana Hoosiers are heading to the Bahamas to play some exhibition games. These trips whether to the Islands, Canada, or overseas are popular with the coaches because they are allowed to actually hold structured, full team practices before the NCAA mandated time.

Before they left, Coach Kelvin Sampson held a press conference to talk about the trip and dropped some noteworthy information. Senior Guard A.J. Ratliff will miss the first 9 games of the season because of academic ineligibility.

Ratliff will be eligible to play (assuming he gets the grades back up to the minimum) starting with the December 15 game against Western Carolina -- which is the day after final exams end. Apparently his results will be expedited. While Ratliff won't miss any of the Big Ten season, he will miss some big non-conference games: Xavier (or Kent State in the Chicago Invitational Challenge), Georgia Tech (Big Ten-ACC Challenge), Southern Illinois and Kentucky.

The only benefit to Ratliff is that he will have extra time to heal his wrists from a break to his left and a sore right.

"Poor A.J. If it weren't for bad luck he wouldn't have any luck," Sampson said of Ratliff's injuries.

At least, it as to be assumed Sampson was only talking about his injuries. Odd thing about the transcript, which only offered "press conference highlights." The only mention of Ratliff was once, and that was in the context of taking part in practices. His suspension didn't merit mentioning. Guess his wrist injuries weren't bad enough to keep him out of practices, either.