For the sixth straight time that Eddie Sutton has been a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the former Oklahoma State head coach has been denied entry. There’s really no explaining why the 24 panelists have yet again voted against his induction.

The Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Saturday the 2019 induction class; more on that later in this column.

Members of the panel are not identified, and the number of votes a candidate receives is not noted, however, it takes at least 18 votes to be inducted. Whether Sutton received one vote of 17, we don’t know. The panelists are anonymous for obvious reasons, as there would be a public outcry against each one who failed to vote in Sutton’s favor.

Sutton retired with 806 wins to his credit, and led four teams to NCAA Tournament appearances; Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky and OSU. Only seven other coaches have earned at least 800 wins, and they are all in the Hall of Fame.

So, what’s keeping Sutton out?

Could it be that the voters remember the fact that Kentucky received punishment for NCAA violations while Sutton was the team’s head coach, or are they holding a DUI accident in Stillwater against him? In either case, the Naismith Hall of Fame isn’t made up of all saints. There are plenty who have been inducted with violations and indiscretions in their past.

I always believe that people should be honored and celebrated for their accomplishments, while they’re alive. Being inducted into a hall of fame or given some award or prize posthumously, is an honor for their family, but does nothing for the individual. At the age of 83 and wheelchair bound, Sutton’s ability to travel and enjoy such an honor is dwindling. It would be a travesty if the Naismith Hall of Fame waited until he could no longer make the trip to Springfield, Mass., or worse yet, was no longer here to receive his plaque.

That’s why this year’s vote was even more urgent, and for that, the voters should be ashamed of themselves.

After all, Sutton has been inducted into several halls of fame, including; the Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma Sports Halls of Fame, National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, and the OSU Hall of Honor. The Naismith Hall of Fame, however, is the pinnacle of achievement, just like the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., or the National Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Even more reason why it’s unexplainable how the panelists didn’t think highly enough of one of the most honored college basketball coaches in history.

BASKEBALL INDUCTEES

Saturday the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2019 was announced. Selected for induction were, former Golden Stare Warriors coach and executive Al Attles; former Boston Celtics coach Bill Fitch; and former players Vlade Divac, Bobby Jones, Sidney Moncrief and Paul Westphal. Also elected were former WNBA star Teresa Weatherspoon, and selected posthumously were Carl Braun and former Harlem Globetrotters star Charles “Chuck” Cooper.

Two teams were selected for induction; Tennessee A&I men’s teams from 1957-1959 (the first collegiate team to win back-to-back-to-back championships), Wayland Baptist University women’s team (which won 131 consecutive games from 1953-58 and 10 Amateur Athletic Union national championships overall).

The Hall of Fame’s 2019 induction ceremony will be Sept. 6 in Springfield, Mass.