Crews won't 'blame anyone but myself'

Duke Crews has always been willing to share his opinions, and now that he's leaving Knoxville, he has one more thing to say to the Tennessee men's basketball fans.

"I want to say thank you,'' Crews said on Saturday, a day after it was announced that the sophomore forward along with sophomore point guard Ramar Smith will not return to UT next season. Violations of UT's substance-abuse policy and academic shortcomings contributed to both departures, sources within the program told the News Sentinel.

"I want to thank each and every one of the Tennessee fans that stayed behind me through my suspension and heart issue,'' said Crews, who was suspended for a month before the start of the season for a violation of team rules and missed nine games due to a heart condition. "It will be very tough letting them go, they are the greatest fans, and I want them to know I enjoyed every minute of this.''

The 6-foot-7 sophomore forward said he plans to transfer to another major Division I school, and that his academics are in order for him to do so in good standing.

"This was something that me and Coach (Bruce) Pearl agreed was best for my career and for the program,'' Crews said. "I don't really like the way it's all coming out, but I realize that not everything that happened for me since I came here was positive.

"I just feel a new start would be good because there's been so much little stuff, and it adds up.''

Crews said his feelings toward Pearl and the Vols remain the same.

"I'll always appreciate my coaches and teammates,'' he said. "I don't blame anyone but myself for where I'm at.

"But the big thing in life is to learn from your mistakes, and I've learned things at Tennessee that I'll take with me for the rest of my life.''

Crews also left some lasting memories as a player with his emotional style of play, throwing down monster dunks and providing clutch play off the bench last season.

"I came here (UT) to accomplish something, and I'm proud I was able to help make some positive things happen,'' Crews said. "I hope whatever school I go to will play Tennessee, because I would like to play in Thompson-Boling (Arena) one more time.''

Crews said he'll return to his home in Hampton, Va., at the completion of spring term classes before the recruiting process starts once more for him.

Crews was recruited by North Carolina and Georgetown, among many others, coming out of high school.

"I'm just glad we can all move forward, and I'm still going to be playing basketball,'' Crews said. "I'll be watching Tennessee next season and pulling for them.''

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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