Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS ó Fearing a postseason ban, Indiana University accepted an NCAA-ordered three years’ probation with relief Tuesday, eager to continue rebuilding its once-storied men’s basketball program.
After months of uncertainty over an embarrassing telephone recruiting scandal, the NCAA spared the school any additional punishment such as a postseason ban or additional scholarship losses.
But former coach Kelvin Sampson, the man at the center of the scandal, faces recruiting restrictions through November 2013 if hired by another school.
“I really believe this allows us to put the whole, ugly episode behind us and move forward,” said incoming athletic director Fred Glass. “I’m obviously disappointed with the failure to monitor finding, but I’m very glad the committee didn’t impose any other penalties.”
The announcement ended a 20-month saga that began with Sampson’s hiring in March 2006.
Infractions committee chairwoman Jo Potuto acknowledged Indiana was spared additional punishment because of its cooperation with the investigation, its own decision to take away a scholarship and extend recruiting restrictions and its long tradition of abiding by the rules.
“It’s bittersweet,” said current Indiana coach Tom Crean, with the team in Hawaii. “We didn’t want to lose postseason, scholarships or television.”
NIT SEASON TIP-OFF
NEW YORK ó Jeff Capel must have winced when he saw who Oklahoma would be playing in the quarterfinals of the NIT Season Tip-Off.
Davidson. Yep, those pesky kids from North Carolina who made such a dramatic run to the final eight of the NCAA tournament.
Talk about a tough ticket to New York.
“We’re just really pleased to be here,” Capel said Tuesday in understated fashion.
The No. 11 Sooners will play Alabama-Birmingham in the semifinals tonight. The other semifinal pits No. 10 Purdue against Boston College, with the winners meeting Friday afternoon for the championship.
Veteran coach Al Skinner is guiding Boston College (3-1) through its first in-season tournament since the 2005 Las Vegas Invitational. BC has star guard Tyrese Rice, a first-team All-ACC pick last season.
Atlantic 10
PHILADELPHIA ó The Atlantic 10 will move its tournament championship game to CBS in 2010 and play first-round games at campus sites.