NCAA sanctions Syracuse, Boeheim suspended 9 games

Indianapolis, IN (SportsNetwork.com) – Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim has been suspended for the first nine games of the 2015-16 ACC season as part of the penalties handed to the university by the NCAA on Friday.

The NCAA’s Committee on Infractions determined that Boeheim failed to monitor the men’s basketball program in the results of an investigation that found numerous violations dating back to 2001.

Syracuse self-reported 10 violations in the case, which primarily involved the basketball program, but also included football. Some of the violations included academic misconduct, extra benefits, the failure to follow its drug testing policy and impermissible booster activity.

Other violations revolved around impermissible academic assistance and services, the head basketball coach’s failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance and monitor his staff, and the school’s lack of control over its athletics program.

In addition to Boeheim’s suspension, the university’s athletic department was placed on five years’ probation. The basketball program will have scholarships reduced by a total of 12 — three each over a four-year period — and will vacate wins in which ineligible students participated.

The school’s self-imposed one-year postseason ban was accepted by the NCAA, meaning the Orange will be eligible to participate in next year’s ACC and NCAA Tournaments.

Syracuse will not have to forfeit its 2003 NCAA Tournament championship.

The NCAA said the school must return to the NCAA all funds it has received to date through the former Big East Conference revenue sharing for its appearances in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 NCAA Tournament.

In addition, the Orange will vacate wins in which ineligible men’s basketball students played in 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2010-11 and 2011-12 and ineligible football students played in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07.

The university agreed with some of the NCAA’s findings, including the discovery in 2004-05 that two men’s basketball and three football players received a combined total of $8,335, provided by a part-time local YMCA employee who qualified under NCAA rules as a University athletics “booster.” The monies received in this instance were considered prohibited “extra benefits.”

Academic misconduct centered around a men’s basketball player submitting a paper in a course he already passed in an effort to improve his course grade and restore NCAA eligibility. The paper was prepared with assistance from two (now former) athletics employees, both of whom were aware their actions were improper and wrong.

However, the university disagreed with the NCAA’s assertion that it was also considered an “extra benefit.”

The university acknowledged its own drug testing program, which is not required by NCAA regulations, was not followed with respect to student- athletes who tested positive for use of marijuana.

As far as the allegations of failure to monitor by the athletic department and the penalty against Boeheim, the university strongly disagreed with the NCAA’s stance and is considering an appeal of those sanctions.

“The university is considering whether it will appeal certain portions of the decision,” said Syracuse chancellor Kent Syverud in a statement Friday. “Coach Boeheim may choose to appeal the portions of the decision that impact him personally. Should he decide to do so, we would support him in this step.”

If the vacated wins are upheld, Boeheim would lose 108 victories. He had 966 wins, second only to Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski in Division I.

Categorized in: NCAA Basketball