Alabama Basketball: NCAA places Crimson Tide on probation

It was announced Friday the NCAA has placed the Alabama basketball program on probation.

Alabama basketball fans should not panic. A probation action is never good news but in this case, the violation and the penalty appear to be fair.

Discovered through the FBI investigation into college basketball, former Alabama basketball staffer, Kobie Baker violated NCAA rules. The University of Alabama cooperated fully with the NCAA and never attempted to deny the allegations subsequent to the school’s internal review. Shortly after the review, Baker exited the Crimson Tide staff. Part of the penalties handed down by the NCAA was a 10-year ‘show cause’ for Baker.

Baker’s violations were outlined in the NCAA realease of the Alabama basketball probation.

"The university and the enforcement staff agreed the former associate athletics director received at least $3,000 from the financial advisor and his representative for setting up a dinner with the student-athlete’s father.The meetings violated NCAA rules because athletics department staff members are prohibited from receiving benefits for facilitating or arranging a meeting between a student-athlete or their family members and an agent, financial advisor or a representative of an agent or advisor."

As most Alabama basketball fans know, the student-athlete was Colin Sexton. A thorough review of the meeting and the relationship between Baker and the Sexton family was conducted by the school and the NCAA. Sexton missed one game while the NCAA reviewed the matter and restored his eligibility. Collin’s father also repaid the cost of the dinner meeting.

The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions further explained the need for their actions in a concise statement,

"The nature of the conduct — selling access to student-athletes and their families — completely undermines the Association’s foundational values"

While the Alabama Athletic Department fully cooperated and never deviated from an admission of guilt, it did make an appeal on the severity of the penalty. That appeal was unsuccessful.

Alabama Basketball Three Year NCAA Probation

• Three years of probation.
• A $5,000 fine plus 1% of the men’s basketball program budget.

As reported by Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News

• There are no scholarship reductions or limitations
• There is no ban of participation in post-season play.

As of midday on Friday, Greg Byrne had not released an official statement from the school.

Alabama basketball fans will rightly complain that as of yet, no NCAA action has been taken against other college basketball programs clearly guilty of far more serious violations. LSU, Arizona and Auburn are three of several programs involved in ongoing NCAA investigations.

Bama Hammer will follow-up with any new information once it becomes known. It should be remembered no coach or player on the current team had anything to do with the Kobie Baker – Collin Sexton issue.