Reports say there’s evidence of widescale corruption in major college basketball.
The FBI announced original charges in late 2017 (photo, Courier-Journal)
The FBI’s investigation of corruption in major college basketball may extend well beyond a handful of schools, a few players and agents, one shoe company, and a small number of assistant coaches.
Multiple outlets, including ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and The Washington Post, are now reporting that the situation may implicate between 30-50 high-end schools, including prominent players and coaches.
“College hoops corruption case poised to take down Hall of Fame coaches, top programs, lottery picks,” was the headline in Pete Thamel’s article published in Yahoo! Sports. “Multiple sources who’ve been briefed on the case and are familiar with the material obtained by feds told Yahoo Sports that the impact on the sport will be substantial and relentless,” Thamel writes.
North Carolina coach Roy Williams says he’s confident that his Tar Heels aren’t on that list, but added that he “wouldn’t be surprised if a wide number of programs are involved in the investigation.”
But something unusual is associated with the bombshell assertions–ambiguity. The evidence is in a protective order and it’s unclear when–even if–any of the information will be released. Some or all of the evidence could be released in pre-trial motions, in dribs and drabs, at trial, and possibly never, Themel concludes.
If nothing of consequence happens, fans will have a field day criticizing Thamel and other reporters who’ve made a big deal of the situation. But if the reporting is spot on, then we’ll get unsavory details associated with the sport’s underbelly.
In the meantime, it would be a good idea for major college basketball to plan for a different future. Last October I put forward a model for restructuring major college basketball. That model adapts MLB’s farm system for use in major college basketball.
“Making major college basketball the NBA’s minor league-–with a draft in place-–puts an end to a major source of college basketball’s ills–recruiting. In the system I propose, college coaches would focus on coaching and not have to worry about “attracting.”
The model would do something else–end a charade. There’s a monumental gap between higher education’s mission and major college sports, no matter what the NCAA, conference commissioners. and university presidents/chancellors say. Besides, it’s obvious that many universities and the NCAA aren’t capable of running programs effectively, even ethically in some cases. Let the professionals run what has evolved over the years into a professional enterprise.”
My proposal may be worth considering seriously, especially if the Feds have found evidence of widespread corruption.
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For more on this story, including information on the previously unidentified schools and players, go to Yahoo! Sports, February 23. 2018.
