Anderson to Take a Look Back

The way Derek Anderson sees it, he jumped off a sinking ship when he transferred from Ohio State to Kentucky.

He’s already won a national championship with the Wildcats, and third-ranked Kentucky has its sights on another. The Buckeyes have endured NCAA probation, a litany of arrests, charges and suspensions and the worst record in school history.

“I stuck it out as long as I could,” said Anderson, who leads his new team against his old one today as Kentucky plays Ohio State in the first game of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Shootout at Gund Arena. “You could almost feel it coming. I didn’t want to be part of it, where something bad was going to happen.”

After Kentucky (9-1) and Ohio State (5-3) meet, Cincinnati (4-2) faces Western Kentucky (5-2).

Ohio State Coach Randy Ayers holds no grudge against Anderson, who was supposed to be the new cornerstone of a proud program that hit bottom so fast it’s easy to forget the enormity of the fall.

“I was extremely disappointed,” Ayers said. “But young people have to make decisions, and he made a decision to go back home.”

Ohio State was placed on NCAA probation in 1993 when Ayers admitted to 17 violations in the recruitment of Cincinnati prep star Damon Flint. Ayers will see Flint on Saturday too. He plays for Cincinnati.

Anderson missed the final seven games of the 1993-94 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. He transferred to Kentucky, where he sat out the 1994-95 season, then led the Wildcats to the national championship last season. He is averaging 20.4 points this season.

Ohio State had its worst season in history in 1994-95, going 6-22. Four players were arrested, three suspended. The Buckeyes were 10-17 last season.