Archive for January, 2012
NCAA provides explanation on Boatright case
From the NCAA:
University of Connecticut men’s basketball student-athlete Ryan Boatright has been cleared to compete immediately, the NCAA announced today.
This situation involves many of the specific concerns expressed by NCAA membership regarding improper third party influence over student-athletes and their families. Specifically, it included more than $8,000 in cash and other impermissible benefits, including a car. These benefits – which are not allowed because they are inconsistent with the principles and values embraced by the NCAA membership – were provided to Mr. Boatright and his mother both before and while he was at UCONN. These impermissible benefits were provided by at least two individuals linked to nonscholastic basketball and professional sports.
Mr. Boatright was granted limited immunity by the NCAA Committee on Infractions, a committee comprised of NCAA members. The limited immunity allowed him to avoid missing a significant number of games and repaying the impermissible benefits. It was granted in an effort to gather information regarding third party involvement. Limited immunity is an important yet selectively used tool for the enforcement staff to gather information that would not otherwise be available.
- Early October 2011: UCONN and the NCAA enforcement staff began interviewing individuals and collecting documentation based on numerous credible allegations indicating that several impermissible benefits had been provided to the student-athlete and his mother. The source of the allegations had also provided a significant amount of documentation to substantiate the claims.
- Early November 2011: The NCAA enforcement staff agreed with UCONN that the student-athlete should not be allowed to compete based on the evidence collected as of that date. While all the relevant information requested from his mother had not been received, the NCAA agreed with UCONN that it was in the best interests of the student-athlete to go ahead and process the known violations while waiting for the other requested records.
- November 18, 2011: Mr. Boatright was reinstated by the NCAA with the condition of a six game withholding and repayment of $4,500 in impermissible benefits to charity. UCONN had declared Mr. Boatright ineligible for preferential treatment violations from two different individuals. The impermissible benefits included travel expenses for his mother during four official visits to NCAA schools and approximately $1,200. In addition, Mr. Boatright was provided travel expenses, hotel, meals and training expenses during a two-night trip to California.
- November 26, 2012: Mr. Boatright returns to competition.
- January 11, 2012: Mr. Boatright’s mother, through her attorney, provided additional requested documents.
- January 13, 2012: After a review of those records, the NCAA enforcement staff and UCONN confirmed that an inappropriate source had been making car payments on behalf of Mr. Boatright’s mother as had been originally reported by the source. At this time, UCONN decided to withhold him from competition.
- January 16, 2012: After considering all of the facts and circumstances known at that time, including the fact that the student-athlete was likely the least culpable actor, the enforcement staff extended an offer of immunity to the student-athlete conditioned on full, complete and truthful cooperation by the student-athlete and his mother in pursuing the remaining allegations.
- January 17 and 19, 2012: To clarify some remaining concerns, Mr. Boatright and his mother were re-interviewed by the NCAA enforcement staff and UCONN representatives.
- January 27, 2012, 7 p.m.: Both the student-athlete and his mother sent the enforcement staff additional records.
- January 28, 2012 at 2 p.m.: After reviewing the additional records, the enforcement staff notified the university that the NCAA staff believed that the student-athlete and his mother had fulfilled the conditions of immunity and therefore, the student-athlete was again eligible for competition.
Source: Boatright Back, No Suspension
Ryan Boatright’s second NCAA review won’t result in a suspension.
A source told Hearst Connecticut Saturday afternoon that the freshman guard had been reinstated with no penalty and will be eligible to play Sunday against Notre Dame.
The UConn athletic department later confirmed the report.
Boatright was under joint review by the NCAA and UConn for the second time this season. The first investigation, which was announced Nov. 2 and concluded on Nov. 18, resulted in a six-game penalty for accepting a plane ticket from AAU coach Reggie Rose.
That information was provided by an ex-boyfriend of Boatright’s mother. The same man contacted the NCAA and sparked the second investigation, a source said.
UConn announced the second review on Jan. 13, the night before the Huskies took on Notre Dame about 120 miles outside Boatright’s hometown of Aurora, Ill.
Fifteen days and two UConn losses later, a resolution was finally reached. This time, the NCAA concluded Boatright did nothing wrong.
“He’s been frustrated, understandably,” one source told Hearst Connecticut Saturday morning. “He’s just waiting for them to realize these are false accusations.”
Boatright is averaging 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. With him, UConn is 8-2. In the nine games he missed, the Huskies went 6-3.
Notes/Quotes from Jan. 27: No resolution on Boatright
The NCAA office closes in eight minutes (I’m typing this at 4:52) and there has been no official word on Ryan Boatright’s eligibility.
Coach Jim Calhoun said that people on UConn’s end, particularly Marielle vanGelder (the Associate Director of Athletics/NCAA Rules Education and Compliance Services) and Christina Buccheri (program assistant), are “working like crazy to get a resolution.”
“To not play, to play, to not play, that will wears on you,” Calhoun said. “I know it wears on me. No one cares about that nor should they. I’ll coach my team the best I possibly can and that’s not an excuse why we win or lose. But when you see what he can do in practice everyday, you’re probably better putting him somewhere else. You would see some of the things he does in practice, which may solve some of our problems. But right now, we’re just waiting like everybody else.”
* Other quick notes: DeAndre Daniels will get the start against Notre Dame after what Calhoun called “probably the best week of his career.” He’ll start in place of Niels Giffey, who has clearly been the more productive player of late.
* Tyler Olander has been “logy,” according to Calhoun. If you needed a dictionary for that word, you’re not alone. It means sluggish and/or slow. And I can honestly say I’ve never heard anyone use it before. Maybe I just don’t read enough. Anyway…
* Surprise here: The last week of practice has been all about getting the ball inside. After the bigs were non-existent at Tennessee, that seems pretty logical.
* Former Huskies guard Tony Robertson has been practicing with the team — and wearing the No. 15 practice jersey — as he hangs around campus to finish up his degree.
In case you’re wondering, yes, Robertson can still fill it up from deep. Being the new guy on the beat, I wasn’t quite sure who he was when I first saw him.
He was casually knocking down 25-footers against UConn’s zone, which prompted me to exclaim, “Who the hell is this walk-on?”
I was quickly informed by the veterans, and I felt pretty dumb for a minute or so.
Good story, right?
Well, that’s all I have for now. Check back soon.
Patterson, Corley entering Huskies of Honor
The Huskies of Honor wall at Gampel Pavilion is getting two additions.
Former UConn men’s stars Worthington “Worthy” Patterson and Bill Corley will be inducted prior to the Huskies’ Feb. 15 game against DePaul.
Patterson, a 6-foot-3 forward who graduated from UConn in 1954, was the first UConn product to play in the NBA when he debuted with the St. Louis Hawks in 1957.
He helped lead the Huskies to three straight Yankee Conference championships from 1952-54 and in 1954 hit the game-winning basket with one second to play in a 78-77 upset of seventh-ranked Holy Cross, which hadn’t lost a home game in more than five years.
Corley, who graduated from UConn in 1968 and died in 1999, was a 6-7 forward/center who holds the UConn single-game scoring record, which he set with 51 points against New Hampshire in 1968.
In his three years at UConn, Corley averaged 16.9 points and 13.7 rebounds. He ranks third in school history in rebounding average and was a three-time All-Yankee-Conference and All-New England selection.
Click here to read the full release from UConn.
UConn Will Wear Nike Platinum Uniforms Sunday
The UConn men’s basketball team will become the first program in the country to wear these awesome new platinum uniforms, which were introduced by Nike to a number of teams.
The 24th-ranked Huskies are scheduled to debut the uniforms this Sunday against Notre Dame. According to the UConn athletic department, the jersey, shorts, shoes and warm-up jacket will be available for purchase on Feb. 4.
Check out the story on ESPN Page 2′s “Uni Watch.”
For what it’s worth, I think these unis are legit. How about you? Thumbs up or thumbs down? Cast a vote in the appropriately colored box below.
Calhoun Launches Autism Event
Press release from the UConn athletic department:
Coach Jim Calhoun has launched a new event, “The Jim Calhoun CardioRaiser – Workout for Autism Speaks,” presented by Farmington Bank, to help raise important dollars for the autistic community. This family friendly fitness event will take place on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at Cardio Express in Manchester and Southington from 9:00AM to 3:00PM.
Participants will be able to choose from a variety of cardio activities including Zumba, spinning, running or walking on treadmills, stair climbing, elliptical training, or riding a stationary bike. No matter the fitness level – there will be an activity for everyone. Panera Bread will be on site at both locations providing breakfast during registration, lunch during the day and food for the closing celebration at 3:00pm.
“I am deeply committed to the cause of helping families confronting the many challenges of autism,” Calhoun said. “It is my hope that this event will bring Connecticut families together to raise dollars so important to all those facing this complex neurobiological disorder. I am extremely grateful for all of the community support we have received thus far.”
The dollars raised will go to the Connecticut Chapter of Autism Speaks and be used to fund global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raise public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bring hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder here in Connecticut.
Registration is open to anyone 14 years of age or older. To find out more or to register visit: www.calhouncardioraiser.com or call the event office at 860-674-1500 today.
Does UConn deserve to be ranked?
Polls came out this afternoon and UConn took quite a tumble, but didn’t fall out of the top 25.
The Huskies, now 14-5 after losing at home versus Cincinnati and at Tennessee, dropped eight spots to No. 19 in the coaches poll and 11 spots to No. 24 in the AP poll.
Obviously, the absence of Ryan Boatright hasn’t helped. Even so, UConn has plenty of other problems to deal with: Shabazz Napier and Jeremy Lamb scored 27 of the team’s 30 second-half points against Tennessee. The offense essentially consisted of Napier and Lamb going one-on-one and everyone else watching. And UConn’s frontcourt, which can potentially be great, was clearly outplayed by Jarnell Stokes and Co.
So the question is simple. Let’s hear your opinion.
