DURHAM, N.C. — Duke tri-captain Shane Battier is the president of the newly formed Student Basketball Council, whose goal is to have a voice in NCAA matters such as Erick Barkley’s woes concerning his tuition at Maine Central Institute.

Battier posted a message on DUKEBASKETBALLREPORT.COM Friday night asking the Cameron Crazies to go easy on Barkley. Here is Battier’s message:

Easy on Barkley From Shane Battier

Since this is a popular site, I would like to use this as a forum for an issue involving the players in tomorrow’s game. Most notably Erick Barkley.

I know he has had some trouble regarding the NCAA, but I would like to ask the crazies to avoid his troubles when rooting against him.

I have many reasons for asking this. First and foremost, a new council has recently been formed to address the many problems facing today’s college basketball players. It is called the Student Basketball Council (SBC) to which I have been elected president. Our goal is to raise awareness against the wrongdoings of the NCAA.

What does this have to do with Erick Barkley? A lot of us feel that Barkley has done nothing morally wrong and is being punished by the NCAA and the media by being villified. Although he will be the adversary tomorrow, we are all standing up for him.

So I am beseeching the crazies to lay off any cheer envolving [sic] Barkley and the NCAA. The players would not appreciate it and it would show support for the NCAA regarding this issue, of which they are heinously wrong. Now if you guys can find other ways to get on him in the creative manner we know you are capable of, not only do we look forward to it, we love it.

Let’s show everyone our class as we show everyone the greatest crowd in sports history!

Thanks

Shane Battier