NCAA: 'Few Facts Are in Dispute' After Kansas' Response to Notice of Allegations
May 7, 2020
The NCAA and the University of Kansas remain at odds as to the culpability of men's basketball coach Bill Self and assistant coach Kurtis Townsend as it relates to alleged violations within the program.
Kansas shared the reply it received from the NCAA on Monday regarding possible infractions by the football and basketball teams:
"While the football allegations involve alleged Level II and III violations, which are serious alleged violations, there can be no doubt the men's basketball allegations are egregious, severe and are of the kind that significantly undermine and threaten the NCAA Collegiate Model. ... Regarding the men's basketball allegations, very few facts are in dispute."
The organization added that "where the parties diverge from the NCAA enforcement staff is on the key issue of responsibility" and that Self and Townsend "have accepted no responsibility for this conduct."
Kansas became wrapped up in the FBI's investigation into college basketball corruption. Yahoo Sports reported in November 2018 that federal authorities allowed NCAA investigators to begin conducting their own review.
CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd reported in March 2019 the NCAA had turned its focus toward the Jayhawks, with the scope not just limited to basketball.
A lawyer for former Adidas executive James Gatto said during trial in October 2018 that Self and Townsend had requested a $20,000 payment to Fenny Falmagne, the "handler" for 2018 recruit Silvio De Sousa, per ESPN's Mark Schlabach.
In its enforcement reply, the NCAA didn't explicitly reference De Sousa but said that Kansas "does not dispute that Adidas and its employee and consultant provided at least $100,000 to the families of three men's basketball prospective student-athletes the institution was recruiting."
The NCAA charged Kansas with five Level I violations and two Level II violations, the most serious of which was a lack of institutional control.
Kansas responded in March to say "the allegations brought against our men's basketball program are simply baseless and littered with false representations."
Sports Illustrated's Michael Shapiro noted the timing of the NCAA's most recent communication could allow for the completion of the case by the start of the 2020-21 season.