Kentucky, and more particularly Kentucky mens basketball, was fined $3,500 due to an eligibility issue that came out surrounding Dontaie Allen.

Allen played in Lexington for two seasons before transferring to Western Kentucky last offseason. He is a redshirt junior.

News broke earlier this week that Allen was being kept off the court by WKU prior to its game against Akron on Nov. 21, which the Hilltoppers ultimately lost 72-53 for their only loss thus far this season, due to an “eligibility matter relating to his previous school and conference.”

As more has come out it has become apparent that the eligibility matter in question was that Allen was ineligible to play in the fall of the 2021-2022 season due to academic standing and grades but took the court anyways.

The local talent played in almost every game of the 2021-2022 campaign prior to Jan. 2022, barring UK’s three power-five games and, ironically, against Western Kentucky.

He averaged four points per game in those appearances, including a high of 14 against North Florida during an average of 9.4 minutes per game with a high of 18 minutes against UNF and Central Michigan.

Western Kentucky head coach Rick Stanbury commented on the matter, taking blame off both UK head coach John Calipari and Allen himself.

“Kentucky played him (Allen) seven games when he was ineligible,” Stansbury said. “Their coaches didn’t know it. Compliance didn’t know. So how does the kid know it? Nobody can say the kid is at fault for not getting his grades. He didn’t know. If the adults in the room didn’t know, he didn’t know.”

Regardless, Kentucky was fined $500 per game for seven games, bringing the total to $3,500, while Allen has now sat out for four games in Bowling Green with hopes that he will be able to take the court again after seven games.