Syracuse Regains 1 Scholarship Per Year in NCAA Appeal: Details, Reaction

The Syracuse men's basketball team will have one scholarship per season restored for the next four years as a result of a sanctions appeal ruling announced Wednesday.

Chris Carlson of Syracuse.com reported in addition to the scholarship availability, the school found $1.23 million in improperly assessed fines handed down by the NCAA. It must still vacate 101 victories, and head coach Jim Boeheim's nine-game ACC suspension is still under review.

The report also included a statement from Syracuse senior vice president of public affairs Kevin Quinn about the ruling:

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The appeal decision results in the reduction of a significant penalty. We strongly believed the original scholarship penalty was too severe when compared to other infraction cases. Also, the scholarship reduction penalty directly impacts current and future student-athletes and their academic and athletic opportunities. We remain disappointed in the decision to vacate a significant amount of men's basketball wins, a decision that was upheld.

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In March, the NCAA stated the school "did not control and monitor its athletics programs," and Boeheim "failed to monitor his program," according to the Associated Press and ESPN.com. It levied a punishment of 12 lost scholarships over four years. The number is now eight.

While it's not a complete victory for the Orange, it's certainly going to help the program. Given the limited number of players on a basketball team, every scholarship is a big deal. Having four extra will help out a lot.

The biggest thing Syracuse has tried to find throughout the process is stability. Boeheim has announced his intention to retire in three years, near the tail end of the punishment, and assistant Mike Hopkins is going to step in as his successor.

That clear plan, along with the extra scholarships, will aid the recruiting efforts in the coming years.

The current edition of the Orange are 3-0 and return to the court Wednesday afternoon to face off with Charlotte as part of the Battle 4 Atlantis.