Jeff Jacobs: NCAA investigating UConn men

[Penfield]

As far as I am concerned Ollie deserves the benefit of the doubt here. I'm not going to argue that he is doing a good job of coaching, but if he gets stiffed from his buyout because of something one of his players or assistants did I am going to feel terrible for the guy.

It's quite possible that we have missed out on recruits and have had kids leave because Ollie was not willing to play dirty.This puts us at a significant disadvantage competition wise. If you get very skilled players into Ollie's system it should work fine, but apparently you have to cheat to get those kids.

Did it get to the point that one of our assistants felt the pressure to land recruits and do something stupid? Did a player do something stupid without the coaches knowledge?

In the end we could have a situation where a husky hero is chased out of town by the fans, labelled as a cheater, essentially set up, and has his contract nullified all while he was trying to play as fair as possible....

I would have been fine with AD DB moving on to the next coach at the end of this season, but unless Ollie did something completely out of line this is not the way it should go down. F the NCAA.

Sometimes I wish I could just stop watching college sports.

 

[The Viking]

I don’t see how one assumes it’s Wilson. If they screwed around on Wilson why would they appeal when they knew there is a 0% chance he gets the waiver?

If you rob a bank, do you go and try to deposit some in your savings account the next day?

While I tend to agree what if St. John's is pissed and just sent a "request" to the NCAA to sniff around UConn. Does the NCAA have to be provided evidence before they begin sniffing, or can another school simply ask the NCAA to check in on a few things after they lose a school to the University of X?

 

[BaZZnBOAT]

Last fall?

 

[gwhuskyfan]

From Dom --

This has been building up for awhile it seems:

UConn said it conducted its own “NCAA-mandated internal review” last fall following allegations made against the program, and retained the law firm of Lightfoot, Franklin and White, which specializes in NCAA athletic compliance.

 

[Penfield]

Last fall?

wonder if that means fall of 2016, or just this past fall.

 

[BaZZnBOAT]

Vance Jackson and the suit guy. I've heard a link for a WHILE now.

 

[BaZZnBOAT]

wonder if that means fall of 2016, or just this past fall.

Was also wondering that. Not entirely clear.

 

[upstater]

Last fall?

Ugh--Dom Amore got the story wrong.

It says, "following allegations at men's basketball programs..." Programs PLURAL.

In other words, they hired that firm after the FBI raids to make sure their own program was clean.

So UConn Insider botches the story.

 

[Tuna]

Agreed. And while people continue to use talent and experience as an excuse for this season, they conveniently forget that we were just as bad last year even though we had quite a bit of talent and experience. Of course, there is always a weakazzed response and it ususally has something to do with not enough ballhandlers. We had plenty of ball handlers last year. You don't need Pete Maravich to beat Houston.

And I like how people are so quick to bash anyone that suggests we sue the NCAA. Wasn't the accepted reason for the NCAA caving to UNC that UNC threatened the NCAA with a pack of lawyers?

What a goddamned mess this program is!!!!!!

Watch the replay of the Houston game last year when Adams was out and then try and say ball handling wasn't an issue.

It was so refreshing not having to read any of your crap for a whole day. Did your meds run out or did someone leave your cage unlocked?

 

[BaZZnBOAT]

Ugh--UConn's people at UConn Insider can't even read.

It says, "following allegations at men's basketball programs..." Programs PLURAL.

In other words, they hired that firm after the FBI raids to make sure their own program was clean.

So UConn Insider botches the story.

Is that what they meant? I didn't understand it to be like that at all based on how they phased it.

 

[upstater]

From Dom --

This has been building up for awhile it seems:

UConn said it conducted its own “NCAA-mandated internal review” last fall following allegations made against the program, and retained the law firm of Lightfoot, Franklin and White, which specializes in NCAA athletic compliance.

It says "made against men's basketball programs" not "the program."

 

[upstater]

Is that what they meant? I didn't understand it to be like that at all based on how they phased it.

Then why does the press release say "programs"?

Don't you remember Herbst boasting with certainty that UConn was as clean as can be? This is why. They hired this firm.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

I heard that it was from the overuse of the dominos 5-5-5 deal the staff ordered to entice students to the game last night.

 

[BaZZnBOAT]

Then why does the press release say "programs"?

Don't you remember Herbst boasting with certainty that UConn was as clean as can be? This is why. They hired this firm.

Yeah you're right. Saw another tweet and they did say programs. That's, if anything, kind of assuring.

 

[The Viking]

Regarding Wilson, he announced UConn in early September

Sidney Wilson leaves St. John’s, joins UConn basketball team

Some excerpts from the article - (of course it's not like the Wilson's are going to say any backchannelling went on, but anyway).

“My relationship with the coaching staff,” he said, when asked why he chose the Huskies a second time around. “Before I committed to St. John’s, I had a good feeling on my visit in early May. Coach (Kevin) Ollie wanted me just as much as before, once he found out I was transferring. That’s probably the biggest thing for me. He feels like even if I sit out this year, I can still get better.”

Either way, Wilson and his father, Sidney, Sr., are happy to be with UConn.

“The legacy of the program speaks for itself,” Sidney, Sr. said by phone on Friday. “Coach Ollie’s a stand-up guy. A lot of coaches would have taken it personal. But he was very welcoming. He wanted him again. He always wanted him. That never wavered.”


And neither, apparently, did Wilson’s fondness for UConn.

“They were neck-and-neck,” Wilson, Sr., said of the Huskies and St. John’s. “It came down to coming home and being home. Until the whole aspect of home came into it, (UConn was) probably No. 1.”

I'm going to be on Ollie's side here and assume this isn't about Wilson - or if it is, Ollie personally did nothing wrong.

 

[JeepCSC]

wonder if that means fall of 2016, or just this past fall.

In October, after the FBI stuff, the NCAA asked all programs to conduct internal reviews. UConn hired outside counsel who in the course of their own investigation found irregularities. UConn passed the info on to Indianapolis, who has begun their own investigation.

 

[king conn]

That suit guy was involved in shenanigans at other schools, correct? Isn't that why we even know about him?
What became of the investigations at those other schools?

 

[WhereistheDove?]

So we're going to pull a cuse and self-impose a postseason ban on a year when we're going nowhere anyways?

 

[tcf15]

Yeah, not sure what the Courant is getting at.

From October 2017: NCAA Board of Directors requiring self-review of each D-I men’s basketball program

The NCAA has directed all Division I programs to examine their men’s basketball programs for potential rules violations following an FBI probe of the sport, and Kansas — for one — says it has followed through on the request.

So UConn, along with all other MBB programs, were directed by the NCAA to review their programs. UConn did, and now with these new allegations, have retained the same law firm used during that internal review.

 

[Penfield]

In October, after the FBI stuff, the NCAA asked all programs to conduct internal reviews. UConn hired outside counsel who in the course of their own investigation found irregularities. UConn passed the info on to Indianapolis, who has begun their own investigation.

Did you see this in an article or do you have an inside source?

very interesting if true

 

[MASSconn]

Why would any coach want to come work for a school that allows their AD to leak information against his own staff?

Nobody will ever be able to prove it. Welcome to the business world. It's about time we started acting a little more cutthroat.

You think UNC played fair with the NCAA? Get busy livin or get busy dyin.

 

[SirHypeAlot]

I honestly don't know what to think. The thought that AD Dave set this up is ridiculous so let's toss that out. You don't bring this type of heat onto your own program even to save 9mill. The timing would suggest it could be related to Sid Wilson. I also don't believe they were paying/bribing recruits because what do they have to show for it? Although Jalen whipping around campus in a brand new Audi raises a brow...but im not going to press that. Has to be tampering of some sort with either Sid or one of the other guys that has transferred in. I've reached out to a couple people. I'll be back

 

[BaZZnBOAT]

Pardon the grammar.

 

[Lefty2one]

After seeing the tweet from UConn Insiders I feel a little better about the situation. I think it's something minor, if anything. Something came up during the mandated internal review and now the NCAA is looking into it on their own. I doubt it's anything serious but then again we're UConn; we'll get a 3-year ban regardless of what we did.

 

[8893]

I've reached out to a couple people. I'll be back

Make sure to get the Triple Foam Polish, Undercarriage Wash and Simoniz® Hot Wax.

 

[Penfield]

It would be the most UConn thing ever if every school was asked to take a look at their men's bball programs, then we actually did, we found something minor, and then instead of covering it up we let the NCAA know because "it's the right thing to do".

It would be the most NCAA thing ever if they gave us a 2 year post season ban, to make a point that it is taking this stuff very seriously now.

And of course we will be the only school to self report a violation

 

[SirHypeAlot]

and if we implicated ourselves while applying for a waiver for Sid that'd be pretty funny. really would put a spotlight on the ineptitude of the entire athletic department we've all been complaining about.

 

[uconngb]

oh shut up, don't act like this is what you were talking about. What you said is a WAY different hypothetical than this. I'm so sick of you I don't know why everyone is seemingly just cool with you being around.

It's the same reason everyone likes having the drunk Uncle around. Nobody pays him any real attention, but it's always interesting to hear what kind of babble will come out of his mouth.

 

[Chelo]

In October, after the FBI stuff, the NCAA asked all programs to conduct internal reviews. UConn hired outside counsel who in the course of their own investigation found irregularities. UConn passed the info on to Indianapolis, who has begun their own investigation.

This is what is happening....everyone calm down.

 

[Guapo]

Of course ESPN has us as one of the top stories. I hate how they love to see our demise.

Unlike in the past, if you click on the comments section under the article, almost all the comments are more or less supportive of us.

Most are along the lines of the NCAA is terrible. Also a lot of comments talking about UNC, Louisville etc.

I guess an upside to being bad is not as many people hate you.