Quote:College basketball roundup: UConn: NCAA, let's make a deal
Huskies want to lift '13 tourney ban
February 9, 2012 |
HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut has proposed reducing the number of games it will play next season if the NCAA grants a waiver to allow the Huskies to play in the 2013 men's basketball tournament.

The school currently would be barred from the NCAA tournament, a penalty for years of below-standard academic results, but it requested a waiver last month.

That document, obtained this week by the Associated Press under a Freedom of Information request, outlines proposed self-imposed penalties to be instituted if the request is granted.

Those include forfeiting the revenue awarded to the Big East for participating in the 2013 tournament, reducing the number of regular-season games played in the 2012-13 season from 27 to 23 and barring coach Jim Calhoun from meeting off-campus with prospective recruits during the fall 2012 contact period.

"Collectively, the university's proposal will clearly send the message that the institution fully accepts the responsibility for past failings," the school writes in its waiver request. "It will result in the economic equivalent of a postseason ban without harming the very students the NCAA is trying to protect."

The Big East conference, which would lose revenue under the proposal, declined to comment on whether it supports the proposal.

The schedule changes also would include eliminating exhibition games next season but would not impact the team's play at the in-season Paradise Jam tournament in the Virgin Islands.

So the actual number of games played would be 26 rather than 30. The school said all hours that would have been spent in competition will instead transfer to study hall, tutor sessions or meetings with advisers.

The school said Calhoun will bring a current or former NBA player to inner-city schools for at least five educational sessions on the importance of academic achievement.

"We believe that we have made a very compelling case to the NCAA and will be deeply disappointed if our request for a waiver from the 2013 men's basketball postseason ban is denied," school president Susan Herbst said in a statement.
Detroit Free Press News Services

(02-10-2012 12:24 PM)SilentStryk09 Wrote:  the NCAA needs to take exception to one of these teams and lay the hammer down like they did with SMU if they ever want to hold these universities accountable

Quote:The school said Calhoun will bring a current or former NBA player to inner-city schools for at least five educational sessions on the importance of academic achievement.

Quote:So the actual number of games played would be 26 rather than 30. The school said all hours that would have been spent in competition will instead transfer to study hall, tutor sessions or meetings with advisers.