UConn Basketball 2010: Athletic Department Admits Wrongdoing But Backs Calhoun

It's clear that the University of Connecticut's Men Basketball program broke NCAA rules and regulation when it came to the recruitment of guard Nate Miles.  As the report they filed to the NCAA is now public, UConn admits it was wrong but firmly stands behind Coach Calhoun.

Of course they have to stand up for Jimmy C.  He is entering his 25th season at UConn.  He has become an icon for UConn basketball.  He has won two national championships and been to three Final Fours during his reign in Storrs.

UConn is coming off one of their worst basketball seasons under Calhoun. It was a season filled with disappointment that left fans on edge on what the future holds here at UConn.  Calhoun is back and has signed a contract extension that will keep him here for the next four years, assuming he has no setbacks with his health.

After losing to Michigan State in the National Semifinal two years ago, Calhoun has been a different man with these NCAA allegations looming over his program.  UConn took the initial steps in self-imposing two years on probation, eliminating one scholarship each year for the next two seasons, and cutting back on the time it is allowed to have with recruits.

The program's lawyers, coaches, and personnel still have to fly out to Indiana at the end of the week to present its case.  The big problem here is that Calhoun is the guy that was labeled as not having an atmosphere of compliance.  When an investigation occurs of this magnitude, and the head coach is the one who is identified as failing to comply, it looks bad to the rest of the world.

UConn took the initiative and eliminated assistants Beau Archibald and Patrick Sellers.  Anybody who had recruiting contact with this player or violated the rules was gone.  Tom Moore who still remains a mystery in a lot of ways is running his program down the road at Quinnipiac.

When he realized Calhoun wasn't retiring anytime soon he decided it was in his best interest to jump ship.  I don't believe he is innocent, but he got out in time.

Former player Atar Majok is also gone.  His mysterious withdrawal from the university is puzzling it itself—right at the beginning of the semester, too late to enter the draft, and after most European leagues had already begun.

Majok in some way, shape, or form was forced out.  I don't believe he acted in his own interest, because he had said that he was looking forward to the upcoming season.

Two assistants and a player who had a number of questions surrounding his eligibility are now gone.  The person who people need to focus on is former agent Josh Nochimson—yes, the guy who was a student-manager and stole thousands of dollars from Rip Hamilton once he went to the NBA.

Nochimson is a crook.  His relationship with Miles is exactly what got UConn into this mess.  Calhoun had warned the athletic department about what type of person Nochimson was.  Don't forget that the University wanted to have no relation to him whatsoever.

“No one else, including Hathaway and the UConn compliance staff, are even referenced in the Notice of Allegations, much less charged with a major violation and put at risk for an individual penalty,” Calhoun’s response said.

It is quite simple.  Miles received benefits for a couple of basketball trips, meals, and had a procedure done on his knee which was valued at around $14,000.

Miles also came to UConn was arrested and had a restraining order put against him which he violated six hours after it was issued.  He was then expelled from the University.

Agents in college basketball are a major problem.  This isn't the first incident, and it won't be the last.  There needs to be strict punishment and penalties, because nowadays this is happening all too often.  In UConn's case, Miles never played for the Huskies.  Thank god, or this situation would be a whole lot worse.

In retrospect, UConn has struggled getting recruits to come to UConn over the last couple of years.  It has tarnished their image a little bit, but the basketball team remains focused on the season.  Calhoun has said he is excited about some of the young talent the Huskies have this season.

When it comes to Calhoun's image he wants it to remain clean.  If the NCAA increases the penalties and sanctions, it would be damaging to his record.  There's a possibility they will take away more scholarships or issue a longer probation period.

UConn has admitted they made mistakes but not at the cost of Jim Calhoun's legacy.  It seems in this case, a postseason ban would be very harsh.  I don't think that will be imposed, but the Huskies have their work cut out for them.

Jim Calhoun will have the opportunity to speak to the NCAA when the hearing takes place.  After that, it is in the hands of the committee who has covered this entire saga since the investigation began.

We should know by late November or early December what the NCAA determines as a final ruling.  In the meantime, Calhoun and his Huskies have to be focused on winning basketball games.  There's still an entire season to be played.

Maybe then, the Huskies can return to their winning ways.  Before that can happen, they have to find a way to win in the eyes of the NCAA.