NCAA Basketball: Programs currently in danger of facing NCAA sanctions
By Bryan Mauro
The NCAA is starting to hand out the results of their investigations into the federal bribery scandal. Which NCAA Basketball schools have received their notices, and which schools are still waiting?
2017 could be the year that changes NCAA Basketball forever. It is going to change recruiting practices for the entire sport. Let’s get a quick refresher as to why that year is going to be so significant for the sport. Christian Dawkins, Assistant Coach at Arizona Book Richardson, and Adidas were accused of taking money for recruits to play at their school. Rick Pitino from Louisville was also at the center of this controversy relating to the money that was exchanged regarding former recruit Brian Bowen.
The FBI investigation highlighted what many individuals who follow the sport closely already knew. Recruiting at its core for the best prospects is best described as a free agency period. The coaches would make their offers and their pitches to the players’ parents or “handlers” and those individuals would be responsible for delivering the services of the player in exchange for cars, homes, jobs and money.
The Investigation revealed that recruiting practices were dirtier than even most thought. Those schools were also in violation of the NCAA bylaws on recruiting. Some of the NCAA investigations are complete while others are still being conducted. The schools that have been told they are under investigation are Louisville, Arizona, Creighton, Kansas, NC State, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, TCU, USC, LSU, Auburn, and Alabama.
This investigation has already seen numerous coaches lose their jobs and the allegations against the school range from semi-serious to very serious. One school has already received its suspension as well. This is going to be an ongoing story as there are still a lot of schools that have yet to receive their allegations.