NCAA Basketball Investigation/Lawsuit Thread (merged)

[tsteele316]

that is a little presumptive by baptist. if for some reason, the ncaa did levy another postseason ban, i dont think osu would roll the dice by appealing the decision which would run the risk of losing the appeal and taking the ban for the 07 tourney, which could very well cost them the Thad 5.

if the ncaa would give osu another year, i would guess that they would take the kick in the crotch, apologize to foster, dials and sullinger, and move forward.

 

[buckmike1]

OB

I have looked everywhere and know I have read it but when are they going to announce the decision on the OB case? It seems like it could it be anyday now.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

link

2/1/06

MARK SNYDER | BIG TEN: Matta braces for NCAA committee


February 1, 2006

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Despite calm appearances, Thad Matta is beginning to feel uneasy.

A year and a half into his job as Ohio State basketball coach, the day Matta dreaded is here.

Friday in Chicago, he will be part of the Ohio State delegation pleading for mercy from the NCAA infractions committee. The Buckeyes want to avoid further sanctions stemming from accusations that former coach Jim O'Brien loaned a recruit $6,000. O'Brien has his own side of the story, but it cost him his job and opened the door for Matta.

Last season, Ohio State tried to soften the blow with a self-imposed ban from postseason play. And none of the principals involved -- O'Brien, former athletic director Andy Geiger, and the player, Aleksandar Radojevic -- are at the school. Radojevic never enrolled.

The one-year ban mimicked Michigan's move in 2002-03, when a potential NCAA tournament team stayed home. The infractions committee banned U-M from the tournament a second year, but that was overturned on appeal.

Ohio State has not been noticeably affected by the uncertainty, sitting at 15-3 overall and 4-3 in the Big Ten, one game out of first place. But the committee could ban the Buckeyes from the tournament again this season. The rulings often come about five weeks after a hearing, which means a verdict might come before tournament bids are announced.

Matta was prepared to know much sooner because the hearing was scheduled for December, but a legal challenge pushed it to back to this week.

"I haven't heard one thing," said Matta, whose team hosts Minnesota on Saturday. "I don't know any more than the day I left Dec. 9 in Indianapolis. It's worn on me a little bit (being) continuously pushed back. ... In my heart, I feel good about what's going to happen. But in the back of my mind, I wonder, 'What if.' "

A few Big Ten coaches can relate. U-M's Tommy Amaker and Minnesota's Dan Monson have endured the same situation.

"It's a tough week because you're guilty until proven innocent, and it's a daunting task a bit," said Monson, who went before the committee at Gonzaga and Minnesota. "But they've done a phenomenal job being able to sell, 'We're OK.'

The biggest punishment for us at Minnesota was the unspoken and people speculating from the death penalty on down."

Even with the prospects of NCAA sanctions, Matta has landed a recruiting class projected as the nation's best. The top prize is center Greg Oden of Indianapolis.

Matta reminded the recruits of an NCAA bylaw that would allow them to go to another school if Ohio State faces significant sanctions.

"I don't want to put kids in a bad situation," he said. "It was nothing more than making them aware of that."
Contact MARK SNYDER at 313-223-3210.or [email protected]

 

[gost8]

All we can do is hope the NCAA doesn't make its usual mistake of punishing people that had nothing to do with the infractions.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

All we can do is hope the NCAA doesn't make its usual mistake of punishing people that had nothing to do with the infractions.

Most people feel like OSU will have to take down some banners and return some money and maybe lose a scholarship, but the majority feel like another post season ban is highly unlikely at this point.

 

[gost8]

Most people feel like OSU will have to take down some banners and return some money and maybe lose a scholarship, but the majority feel like another post season ban is highly unlikely at this point.

I know that is probably what will happen but it is still bullshit. Put the punishment on the guilty party. OB
Put some sort of coaching ban on him. Like he can't coach a D1 school for 5 years. None of the kids that put the banner up there cheated. None of the kids that got robbed out of a tournament spot last year cheated. OB did. I know I am preaching to the choir, it just makes my blood boil. After winning the Illinois game last year those boys deserved a tournament spot and you could tell they were hurt about not being able to go. Especially the seniors.

 

[jwinslow]

All we can do is hope the NCAA doesn't make its usual mistake of punishing people that had nothing to do with the infractions.

there have been some recent rulings that were more lenient due to the guilty coach/team being many years removed. One example was of a pretty strict sentence that was lessened just last year to not hold the sins of the past regime against the new kids.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I know that is probably what will happen but it is still bullshit. Put the punishment on the guilty party. OB
Put some sort of coaching ban on him. Like he can't coach a D1 school for 5 years. None of the kids that put the banner up there cheated. None of the kids that got robbed out of a tournament spot last year cheated. OB did. I know I am preaching to the choir, it just makes my blood boil. After winning the Illinois game last year those boys deserved a tournament spot and you could tell they were hurt about not being able to go. Especially the seniors.

Well the reason they do that was b/c it is the university's responsiblity to bering in honorable people and to not break the rules. I think the fact that there was a quick dismissal of OB should say that we have control as a university.

Hopefully they dont take too much money b/c then we might have to raise tickets prices a little more.:(

 

[tsteele316]

None of the kids that put the banner up there cheated.

some folks would say that boban savovich did.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I know that is probably what will happen but it is still bullshit. Put the punishment on the guilty party.

Actually, in the long run, they are punishing the guilty party (if there indeed is guilt), and that is the basketball program. The athletic department is ultimately responsible for the conduct of its employees. Think about it...if a program can avoid sanctions by looking the other way when violations occur and then canning violators only when discovered by outside sources, a program will continue to condone-by-nonaction those violations which could otherwise bring sanctions on the program.

Take the Michigan fiasco for example. If the Michigan program weren't punished the way it was, then it would have no motivation to better oversee its recruiting process and prevent the massive monetary gifts from boosters to recruits...they would simply find some other boosters for them to allow to give money.

If the NCAA punishes only O'Brien, then what motivation does Ohio State have to better oversee their coaches and recruiters (if there indeed was a degree of lack of reasonable oversight)? They would know that all they had to do to avoid sanctions is to fire the individual, and that's only if and when they are caught. There would be no reason for them to follow recruiting rules if they knew they could skirt them so easily.

Now, does it suck that current players may not get to play in the tournament for something they didn't do? Yeah. But they still get to play regular season games and they are still getting their scholarships...it's not like they're getting tossed out in the street for doing nothing.

 

[gost8]

Well the reason they do that was b/c it is the university's responsiblity to bering in honorable people and to not break the rules. I think the fact that there was a quick dismissal of OB should say that we have control as a university.

Hopefully they dont take too much money b/c then we might have to raise tickets prices a little more.:(

I see what you are saying, but how does any university know what someone is going to do in the future? All you can do is go by what they have done in the past and hope they stick to their morals.

Oh and ticket prices for both football and basketball are going up $1.00 next year. Even the spring game is $6.00 this time around.

 

[Buckeyefrankmp]

Why not volentarily take down the banner? Matta could use it as motivation going into the NCAA tourny.

 

[gost8]

Actually, in the long run, they are punishing the guilty party (if there indeed is guilt), and that is the basketball program. The athletic department is ultimately responsible for the conduct of its employees. Think about it...if a program can avoid sanctions by looking the other way when violations occur and then canning violators only when discovered by outside sources, a program will continue to condone-by-nonaction those violations which could otherwise bring sanctions on the program.

Take the Michigan fiasco for example. If the Michigan program weren't punished the way it was, then it would have no motivation to better oversee its recruiting process and prevent the massive monetary gifts from boosters to recruits...they would simply find some other boosters for them to allow to give money.

If the NCAA punishes only O'Brien, then what motivation does Ohio State have to better oversee their coaches and recruiters (if there indeed was a degree of lack of reasonable oversight)? They would know that all they had to do to avoid sanctions is to fire the individual, and that's only if and when they are caught. There would be no reason for them to follow recruiting rules if they knew they could skirt them so easily.

Now, does it suck that current players may not get to play in the tournament for something they didn't do? Yeah. But they still get to play regular season games and they are still getting their scholarships...it's not like they're getting tossed out in the street for doing nothing.

All good points.... But I still think that if you not only fire the guy but keep him from coaching anywhere else for a substantial amount of time we would see less of the behavior.

This goes for boosters as well. If they cheat you "dismiss" them from the program as well as the athlete that takes the gift, money, etc... I know you can't have a blanket rule but I think the punishment should somehow fall on the individuals rather than the group. Does anyone really think OB really cares at this point what happens to tOSU?

This of course all hinges on the how strict the athletic dept. is in self reporting so I do see your point there Mili.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

All good points.... But I still think that if you not only fire the guy but keep him from coaching anywhere else for a substantial amount of time we would see less of the behavior.

This goes for boosters as well. If they cheat you "dismiss" them from the program as well as the athlete that takes the gift, money, etc... I know you can't have a blanket rule but I think the punishment should somehow fall on the individuals rather than the group. Does anyone really think OB really cares at this point what happens to tOSU?

This of course all hinges on the how strict the athletic dept. is in self reporting so I do see your point there Mili.

I totally agree that O'Brien and any involved boosters should also be punished, and in fact should suffer the brundt of it. My point earlier was that our program should also be liable for punishment if it indeed was lax in oversight--even if it results in some "collateral damage"--to the reasonable degree of their guilt. From what I've seen, our voluntary post-season ban last year should be pretty close to being sufficient for what the program itself was "guilty" of. Let's all hope that is all that will result...

 

[Steve19]

Mili that's a great post and if I could award one to you in this forum, I would!

Actually, in the long run, they are punishing the guilty party (if there indeed is guilt), and that is the basketball program. The athletic department is ultimately responsible for the conduct of its employees. Think about it...if a program can avoid sanctions by looking the other way when violations occur and then canning violators only when discovered by outside sources, a program will continue to condone-by-nonaction those violations which could otherwise bring sanctions on the program.

Take the Michigan fiasco for example. If the Michigan program weren't punished the way it was, then it would have no motivation to better oversee its recruiting process and prevent the massive monetary gifts from boosters to recruits...they would simply find some other boosters for them to allow to give money.

If the NCAA punishes only O'Brien, then what motivation does Ohio State have to better oversee their coaches and recruiters (if there indeed was a degree of lack of reasonable oversight)? They would know that all they had to do to avoid sanctions is to fire the individual, and that's only if and when they are caught. There would be no reason for them to follow recruiting rules if they knew they could skirt them so easily.

Now, does it suck that current players may not get to play in the tournament for something they didn't do? Yeah. But they still get to play regular season games and they are still getting their scholarships...it's not like they're getting tossed out in the street for doing nothing.