Ellington

Ole Miss basketball coach Andy Kennedy's status was uncertain Thursday morning following his arrest in Cincinnati on a charge of assault. Kennedy is accused of attacking a taxi driver and hurling racial slurs at the man.

Kennedy and the Rebels are in Cincinnati for a game with Louisville Thursday (8 p.m., ESPN) in the SEC/Big East Challenge. As of Thursday morning, no decision had been made on whether Kennedy would coach Thursday's game. Kennedy and Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone were scheduled to meet at a Cincinnati hotel.

Kennedy pleaded not guilty and his attorney said the UM coach "emphatically denies this and emphatically denies making any racial slurs."

Kennedy's drinking buddy, er, companion, Ole Miss director of operations William Armstrong, was charged with disordely conduct. Police said Armstrong was drunk and had been thrown out of a bar before the incident in the taxi took place.

The cabbie claimed Kennedy punched him.

Kennedy, 40, is in his third season as head coach at Ole Miss. Before that he spent four seasons at Cincinnati as a Bearcats assistant and one as interim head coach.