Salt City Sooner
5/27/2009, 09:39 PM
The Memphis men's basketball program has been charged by the NCAA with major violations during the 2007-08 season under former coach John Calipari, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported on Wednesday.
The allegations include "knowing fraudulence or misconduct" on an SAT exam by a player on the 2007-08 team.
The wording of the report indicates the player in question only competed during the 2007-08 season and the 2008 NCAA tournament. The player's name was redacted in the report due to privacy laws, The Commercial Appeal reported.
If the NCAA allegations are proven true, Memphis might have to forfeit their NCAA-record 38 victories and Final Four appearance.
Memphis received the notice of allegations Jan. 16 and is scheduled to appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions June 6.
Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky on March 31. The NCAA has requested his presence at the hearing, although he is not named in the report.
It is also alleged that Memphis provided $2,260 in free travel to road games for an associate of a player, The Commercial Appeal reported. The NCAA is charging Memphis with a failure to monitor.
"We take it very seriously. We don't condone it," athletic director R.C. Johnson told the Commercial Appeal, who declined to comment in detail about the allegations. "We're doing a thorough investigation."
Kentucky spokesperson Dewayne Peevey said Calipari and athletic director Mitch Barnhart were unavailable for comment.
Kentucky assured its boosters when it hired Calipari it had done its due diligence in checking his background.
"Sandy Bell and the compliance folks talked with the NCAA and checked records and facts," Barnhart said April 1 when Calipari was introduced at Kentucky. "David Price, other people at the high level with the NCAA, assured us how much they enjoyed working with John in that process.
"We have all had our critics about how we manage and lead our programs. For seven years I've had my share and I've been through it. Our commitment at the University of Kentucky to compliance and discipline has always been strong, and that will not change. John's commitment to compliance and discipline has always been strong, and that will not change."
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4210798
The allegations include "knowing fraudulence or misconduct" on an SAT exam by a player on the 2007-08 team.
The wording of the report indicates the player in question only competed during the 2007-08 season and the 2008 NCAA tournament. The player's name was redacted in the report due to privacy laws, The Commercial Appeal reported.
If the NCAA allegations are proven true, Memphis might have to forfeit their NCAA-record 38 victories and Final Four appearance.
Memphis received the notice of allegations Jan. 16 and is scheduled to appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions June 6.
Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky on March 31. The NCAA has requested his presence at the hearing, although he is not named in the report.
It is also alleged that Memphis provided $2,260 in free travel to road games for an associate of a player, The Commercial Appeal reported. The NCAA is charging Memphis with a failure to monitor.
"We take it very seriously. We don't condone it," athletic director R.C. Johnson told the Commercial Appeal, who declined to comment in detail about the allegations. "We're doing a thorough investigation."
Kentucky spokesperson Dewayne Peevey said Calipari and athletic director Mitch Barnhart were unavailable for comment.
Kentucky assured its boosters when it hired Calipari it had done its due diligence in checking his background.
"Sandy Bell and the compliance folks talked with the NCAA and checked records and facts," Barnhart said April 1 when Calipari was introduced at Kentucky. "David Price, other people at the high level with the NCAA, assured us how much they enjoyed working with John in that process.
"We have all had our critics about how we manage and lead our programs. For seven years I've had my share and I've been through it. Our commitment at the University of Kentucky to compliance and discipline has always been strong, and that will not change. John's commitment to compliance and discipline has always been strong, and that will not change."
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4210798