…and it’s not pretty.

This afternoon, I got several e-mails in my inbox and read a couple message board posts from Memphis fans with snarky comments about assistant coach Josh Pastner because of today’s news that Emmanuel Negedu has chosen to play basketball at Tennessee.

A quick sampling:

“I wonder if Pastner gets a pay cut.”

“First week on the job, and JP couldn’t get it done. Cal must be pissed, as I know I am.”

(Quick background: When he wa sat Arizona, Pastner recruited Negedu there and got him to sign a letter-of-intent last fall. When Pastner and other staff members left, Negedu asked out of his letter and went back into the recruiting process.)

Folks, settle down. If not for Josh Pastner, Memphis wouldn’t have been in the mix for Negedu at all. Tennessee, if you remember, recruited Negedu before he signed with Arizona. Memphis did not. Negedu was smart to base his decision on more than an assistant coach. If he felt more comfortable with the overall situation at Tennessee, wish him well and move on.

Unfortunately, “Kentucky fan syndrome” seems to have hit. Kentucky fans are notorious for blaming their own coaches, making accusations about opposing coaches or badmouthing kids when they choose to play at a different school. Memphis fans would be smart not to mimic those tactics, especially since we’re not talking about the second coming of Wilt here. Negedu is a nice player who will likely have a decent career at Tennessee, but he’s not a program changer. It’s highly unlikely he would have magically solved Memphis’ rebounding question marks next season, especially playing power forward at 6-5 (having stood next to him, I can vouch for the 6-7 listing as a complete fabrication). The Tigers would have liked to have had him, but they’ll get by. If not for the ego blow of losing a recruit to Tennessee, this wouldn’t be a bitter loss at all.