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Minnesota Daily Online -
Staff and wire reports
The Gophers men's basketball team will be banned from postseason play and placed on NCAA probation, University President Mark Yudof said at a press conference today.
The sanctions will be a first step in rebuilding the University's men's basketball program and re-establishing good faith with the NCAA, Yudof said.
Although the final academic fraud report has not yet been finished, men's basketball coach Dan Monson said the actions were necessary to keep the team moving forward.
Further University-imposed sanctions will follow the release of the academic fraud report in mid-November, Yudof said.
As men's athletic director Mark Dienhart stared at the table in front of him, Yudof said he preferred not to speculate on future sanctions or personnel changes.
Monson was disappointed the team would be ineligible for postseason play but said he expected similar sanctions when he was hired following the buyout of former basketball coach Clem Haskins' contract in June.
"None of these kids were involved in the wrongdoing, but they are the ones who are paying the price," Monson said.
Yudof said he chose the sanctions as a midpoint of possible future NCAA penalties.
Yudof's announcement comes near the conclusion of one of the most expensive athletics scandals ever at the University.
The seven-month investigation, for which legal fees have already exceeded $1 million, began in March after a former academic counselor for men's athletics admitted to writing more than 400 papers for Gophers athletes.
-- Compiled from staff and wire reports
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