NCAA Investigations

Syracuse’s self-imposed postseason ban didn’t factor into NCAA decisions

Logan Reidmsa | Asst. Photo Editor

Syracuse, pictured here before playing Pittsburgh on Feb. 7, announced a self-imposed postseason ban three days prior. But that ban, the NCAA said, had little if any influence on the final infractions decision.

Syracuse’s decision to self-impose a postseason ban for the 2014-15 season did not factor into the NCAA’s final infractions decision, the NCAA’s report released on Friday said. The report included sanctions involving the loss of 12 scholarships over four years, a five-year probationary period and the vacation of wins, among other punishments.

Here’s what the NCAA said regarding the self-imposed ban in the 94-page report:

“After the infractions hearing, the institution self-imposed a one-year postseason ban for the institution’s men’s basketball program. The panel accepted the institution’s self-imposed penalty but noted that self-imposition of penalties after the conclusion of infractions hearings will not influence outcomes. Therefore, the institution’s men’s basketball program shall end its 2014-15 academic year basketball season with the playing of its last regularly scheduled in-season contest and shall not be eligible to participate in any postseason competition, including any foreign tours and conference and/or NCAA tournaments or championships.”

An hour after the report was released, NCAA chief hearing officer Britton Banowsky discussed the self-imposed ban on a media conference call. Banowsky confirmed that the ban had no bearing on the NCAA’s decisions.

“We noted and accepted it,” he said. “That’s it.”



When asked what would have happened if Syracuse did not self-impose a postseason ban for this season, Banowsky did not want to speculate on the hypothetical situation.





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