Reports came out on Friday that Southern Methodist University has received an NCAA Notice of Allegations, specifically about academic improprieties in the basketball program.
SMU is recognized as the first, and only, team to receive the infamous “Death Penalty”, but that was within their football program. These allegations cannot have enough “meat” to constitute that type of punishment, but the Mustangs have had multiple signs of academic issues throughout Larry Brown’s tenure. Finding out what the extent of these allegations will be a story to follow throughout the upcoming months.
Going through SMU’s “academically questionable” list can take more time than one would think. It’s not as much SMU’s fault as it is the kids that are being recruited to be a Mustang.
The most famous case is Emmanuel Mudiay. Mudiay attended Prime Prep in high school, which was also a school under hot water for multiple eligibility concerns. Mudiay committed to Larry Brown over John Calipari, but was on the fence of being eligible for this season. Mudiay, being a potential lottery pick anyway, decided to forgo college, and headed to professional basketball in China. Although Mudiay cited other reasons for his decision to go overseas, his eligibility concern was rumored to be the driving factor.
Recently, Southern Methodist has seen Justin Martin leave for professional basketball also, and that too has been connected to academics according to cbssports.com. Martin isn’t the only case of departure in the Mustang’s program. Assistant Coach Ulric Maligi has taken an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons, although one could speculate those reasons are due to the forming NCAA investigation. Maligi is said to be a great recruiter, and recruited Justin Martin as well.
To add salt to their wound, it is expected that former five-star Keith Frazier will be suspended for the remainder of the season according to ESPN.com. Frazier’s suspension is also academic related. This is just one more distraction that could be potentially harmful to the program that Brown is trying to build.
While such departures probably won’t hurt SMU this season, the Mustangs are 14-4 (5-1) overall, these recurring problems are certainly opening an eye of the NCAA. Let’s remember, Larry Brown is not new to having problems with his college program. After his championship year with Kansas in 1988, the Jayhawks had a postseason ban the next season, and three years of probation for recruiting violations.
Southern Methodist’s basketball program isn’t in too much trouble, yet. If they are in a boatload of trouble, whether it be academic, recruiting, or both, it could potentially put the program back in the dark, like their football program many years ago. A developing bad reputation can hinder any program, but especially one at a school that is famous for such issues already.
Brown better hope this situation is not serious, or else he could find himself starting back over when it comes to building a successful basketball program at Southern Methodist University.
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