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2B Daily News – Thursday, June 21, 2012 10 NCAA basketball teams banned from postseason INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Poor academic scores could create a very different kind of madness in March. A record 10 men's basketball teams, including three-time nation- al champion Connecticut, will be banned from next season's NCAA tournament because of sub-par work in the classroom. UConn becomes the first BCS school to face a postseason ban in either of the two most prominent college sports based solely on the annual Academic Progress Rate scores, which were released Wednesday by the NCAA. Each of the schools fell below the mandated cutline of 900 on their four-year scores. The APR mea- sures the classroom performance of every Division I team. This year's data calculates rates from 2007-08 through 2010-11. line next March will be Arkansas- Pine Bluff, California-Riverside, Cal State Bakersfield, Jacksonville State, Mississippi Valley State, North Carolina-Wilmington, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Toledo and Towson. Joining the Huskies on the side- Cal State Bakersfield, which became a full-fledged Division I member in 2010-11 and does not yet have a conference affiliation in basketball, could still be removed from the banned list because some its data is still being evaluated. ''I think if a (BCS school) didn't said any team ineligible for the NCAA tourney will not be allowed to compete in conference tourna- ments, including UConn. ''We'll have to adjust the bracket accordingly,'' Big East associate commissioner for men's basketball Dan Gavitt said Wednesday, noting the Huskies could still win an appeal to the Committee on Acade- mic Performance. ''Until CAP makes that final determination, we're not going to have any com- ment. We wouldn't change the brackets. We would accommodate it in such a way that it would work. We would just have to eliminate a game and move someone up on the line.'' the tourney pairings. Big East presidents have already award their automatic bid. In addi- tion to banning ineligible teams from league tournament play, they could give the automatic bid to the regular-season champ or tourney runner-up if an ineligible team won the postseason tourney. Or they could forfeit the bid, which is the unlikeliest scenario. make it, it would look really bad,'' Ohio University professor David Ridpath said last week. Ridpath is also past president of the NCAA watchdog The Drake Group. All the banned teams, including Connecticut, face additional sanc- tions of losing a minimum of four hours of practice time per week, which must be replaced by academ- ic activities. The penalties could create an unusual scenario for the seven affected conferences. Not only will UConn and the other teams be ineligible for NCAA play, but league officials could also rule them ineligible for the individ- ual conference tournaments. If that happens, it could force changes in None of this came as a surprise to Connecticut, which had a four- year score of 889 and lost an appeal to the NCAA for a waiver that would have allowed it to play in next year's tourney. School officials contend that if the NCAA used the team's two most r recent scores, 826 in 2009-10 and 978 in 2010-11, UConn's two-year score would be 902 and argued that school's self- imposed changes are already pro- ducing better academic results. Other conferences face more uncertainty. Two leagues, the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Colonial Athletic Association, each have two teams facing postseason bans. Four others — the Big West, Mid-Amer- ican, Ohio Valley and Southland — all have one team on the list. They have not yet said what they will do with the ineligible teams. But the penalties could have a significant impact. ''If there's one, two, three four different teams in any given confer- ence, it would have a major impact in how the bracket, how the tourna- ment is run, ticket sales, television exposure,'' Gavitt said ''I think that's the goal of the presidents — to make the penalties more impact- ful, more meaningful.'' NCAA rules allow each individ- ual conference to determine how to received postseason bans — Hamp- ton, North Carolina A&T and Texas Southern. All are members of the Football Championship Subdivi- sion and are considered historically black colleges or universities. The only other teams to get postseason bans were Central Connecticut State in men's soccer and Northern Colorado in men's wrestling. In all, 54 teams fell below the 900 mark with roughly 80 percent (43) of them coming from what the NCAA defines as limited-resource schools. ''It's another cottage industry for between the haves and the have- nots,'' Ridpath said last week. Rid- path is also past president of the NCAA watchdog The Drake Group. Only three football teams Despite the penalties, the overall numbers are improving. The new four-year average of 973 represents a three-point increase over last year's report, and scores in each of the four most vis- ible sports also went up. Baseball jumped six points to 965, men's basketball had a five-point increase to 950, while women's basketball (970) and football (948) both improved by two points. Single-year APR averages have increased every year since 2004-05, the second year data was collected, though only slightly from 2009-10 (973.8) to 2010-11 (974.0) The most recent one-year scores OLYMPIAN (Continued from page 1B) away in the vaults. Future generations will have archives far richer than the black and white pho- tos and scratchy footage we have of Nurmi and his peers. But only we will actu- ally remember the physi- cal sensations, what it really felt like, of watch- ing this generation of London Olympians per- form. Only we will be able to say, ''It sent shiv- ers down my spine. I wish you'd seen it.'' The same, of course, must also have been true for those in the Colombes stadium who witnessed Nurmi's same-day Olympic double on July 10, 1924. But 88 years on, how many of them are alive today? In short, appreciate the Olympics for the uniquely human and ephemeral experience they are. youthful years when we are capable of anything but not yet fully aware of how quickly they will be gone. Yes, yes, I know the United Nations also brings together all four corners of the globe. Call me shal- low, but the prospect of watching the Security Council deliberate doesn't excite me like 17 straight days of swimming, track and field, Greco-Roman, BMX, beach volleyball or even syncro-swimming — whatever tickles you. What makes Olympians so fascinating is that they're just like you and me and yet not like us at all. They burn toast, chew their nails, can't remember where they put the house keys, but put themselves through hell and high water in pursuit of their goals — to be the best in London or simply to do their best. In other words, we're There has been a lot of griping in Britain about the 9 billion pound (11 billion euro; $14 billion) price tag, the extreme security, the commercial- ism of the modern Olympics and the expect- ed disruption to London- ers' everyday lives. Some in New York, which also bid for the 2012 games, feel lucky their city wasn't selected. The debate about whether the Olympics have become too big, resource-draining and wasteful is valid, impor- tant and needs to continue after London. for men's basketball and baseball both decreased from last year's report. Men's basketball went from 951.6 to 950.9, while baseball slipped from 966.6 to 963.9 over the same period. In football and women's basketball, the one-year numbers both increased slightly in this year's report. showcases us quite in the same way as the Olympics — our strengths, weak- nesses, colors, cultures, our savage hunger to com- pete and prove ourselves, our chest-beating individ- uality and ability to work in teams, the pleasure we get from watching others succeed and fail, and the fleeting nature of our But nothing else we do sufficiently alike for us to be able to dream that we, too, could have been like them if only we had been born bigger, stronger, faster, luckier, less lazy and more determined than we are. They are an ideal — even if, as people, many of them aren't ideal at all. that we own a share of the achievement when Olympians in London redefine what we imag- ined humans are physical- ly capable of doing. They are our ambassadors, per- forming exploits that we can't or won't but, in dif- ferent circumstances, per- haps could. So we all should feel If Bolt or Phelps, the stars of Beijing 2008, break more world records this time, it won't make them better humans than the rest of us. man, they and the other Olympians will show how super more humans per- haps could be, given the chance and the will. But by being superhu- BCS playoff needs final approval Hornets trade for Lewis CHICAGO (AP) — The BCS com- missioners reached a consensus Wednes- day on a model for a four-team, seeded playoff that will be presented to the uni- versity presidents next week for approval. All that's left is for the presidents to sign off and major college football's champion will be decided by playoff come the 2014 season. The commissioners have been work- ing on reshaping college football's post- season since January. The meeting Wednesday was the sixth formal get- together of the year. They met for four hours and emerged together with a com- mitment to stand behind a plan. In fact, all 11 commissioners stood Though they were stingy about pro- viding specifics of that plan. They said they were reluctant to share shoulder-to-shoulder behind Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who pinch-hit for under-the-weather BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock and read the BCS statement from a podi- um set up in a hotel conference room. ''We are excited to be on the thresh- old of creating a new postseason struc- ture for college football that builds on the great popularity of our sport,'' Swar- brick read. BOUNTY (Continued from page 1B) didn't escalate to a hear- ing, Durbin's and Good- ell's involvement drew criticism from a fellow senator. ''Senator Durbin and Roger Goodell both have more pressing matters than this public relations stunt,'' Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) said in a state- ment. Though the process This bounty program is as close to bribery to influence the outcome of an event as I can think of.'' role. ''Some people ques- tion, 'Well, what does Congress have to do with this?''' Durbin said. ''It's a federal crime to bribe somebody to influ- ence the outcome of a professional sporting event. Durbin defended his too many details before they had a chance to discuss them with their bosses, the university presidents. Pac-12 Com- missioner Larry Scott did say the two semifinals would be worked into the existing major bowls and the site of the national championship game will be bid out similarly to the Super Bowl. The BCS Presidential Oversight Committee meets Tuesday in Washing- ton, and the commissioners and Swar- brick all stressed that ultimately the decision lies with their bosses. And that the presidents will have more than just one model to talk about. The Big Ten and Pac-12 presidents have both expressed support for the so- called plus-one model, which gives the BCS a new look by selecting the cham- pionship game participants after the bowls are played instead of creating a pair of national semifinals, which is what the commissioners came away from the latest meeting in Chicago back- ing. Durbin was asked whether the NFL had taken substantial enough steps to warrant not hav- ing a hearing. ''Unlike many issues that come before us, this issue was discovered by the NFL. The investiga- tion was initiated by the NFL. And the actions that were taken against coaches and players was taken by the NFL,'' Durbin said. ''There was no denial here.'' Said Goodell: ''We will continue to work with the Senator and his office. We will continue to evaluate our policies at every step. . We give the Senator our assur- ance on that, my person- al assurance that I will do that.'' Goodell's handling of bounty-related suspen- sion has drawn criticism from the NFLPA, which has cited a lack of due process and fairness. ''I have no place to judge the process,'' said Durbin, who noted he spoke with many play- ers, former players and coaches. Durbin said NCAA president Mark Emmert also came to Washington to discuss the issue, and the NCAA will set up an anonymous phone num- ber to report bounty pro- grams. ''Today's announce- ment by the NFL, and further activities with the NCAA and other leagues in the future, will help ensure that bounties are finished in football,'' Durbin said. ''The NFL's players are protected, and its audi- ences can know the game will be played fair- ly, honestly and safely.'' NBA FINALS Game 1:Oklahoma City 105, Miami 94 Game 2: Miami 100, Oklahoma City 96 Game 3: Miami 91, Oklahoma City 85 Game 4: Miami 104, Oklahoma City 98 Today at Miami, 6 p.m. x-Sunday Oklahoma City, 5 p.m. x-Tuesday at Oklahoma city, 6 p.m. x - if needed NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Hor- nets traded forward Trevor Ariza and center Emeka Okafor to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday for forward Rashard Lewis and a second-round draft pick. Lewis is entering the last season of a $118 million, six-year contract and could be a candidate for the NBA's amnesty clause, meaning he may not end up playing for the Hornets if New Orleans chooses to cut him loose in order to clear space under the salary cap. ''We are rebuilding our team and this is one step in our new direction,'' Hornets general manager Dell Demps said. ''This trade will provide an opportunity for our young players to develop and create flexibili- ty to add to our core group moving forward.'' Said Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld: ''Rashard unfortunately was injured while he was with us, and he didn't get an opportunity to show the kinds of things he was capable of doing. ... He had a very hefty buyout in his contract, and we elect- ed to add a couple of players to the roster by using his contract.'' ards would have had to pay a $13.7 million buyout. New Orleans also receives the 46th pick in this Grunfeld said the Wiz- WNBA WESTERN CONFERENCE WL Pct GB Minnesota 10 1 .909 — Los Angeles 8 3 .727 2 San Antonio 4 4 .500 4.5 Seattle 3 7 .300 6.5 Phoenix 2 7 .222 7 Tulsa 1 9 .100 8.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE WL Pct GB Connecticut 9 2 .818 — Chicago 7 2 .778 1 Indiana 5 4 .556 3 Atlanta 4 7 .364 5 New York 4 7 .364 5 Washington 2 6 .250 5.5 ------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday's results Washington at Phoenix, 7 p.m. Tulsa at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m. Today's games Connecticut at Indiana, 4 p.m. New York at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Friday's Games San Antonio at Seattle, 7 p.m. year's draft, which original- ly belonged to Dallas. The Hornets, who are expected to take Kentucky star Anthony Davis with the top overall draft pick and also have the 10th selection, did not have a second-round pick before the trade. Wash- ington, meanwhile, has the third overall pick and still has the second pick of the second round. won't have any effect on the team's draft plans. ''We felt like we needed to add some veterans to the roster, and we were able to do that with this move. ... We get players that are good solid players and fill two needs for us,'' he said. ''Instead of going into free agency to try to fill our needs, we did it through a trade.'' Grunfeld said the deal Okafor has never lived up to being the second pick in the 2004 draft, but has averaged double figures in points (12.7) and rebounds (10.1) during his career. Last season, however, he averaged a career-low 9.9 points and 7.9 rebounds and missed time with a sore left knee. while the Hornets, already well out of playoff con- tention, took a closer look at younger players on the ros- ter. Several of those younger players, including second- year swingman Al-Farouq Aminu, showed signs of improvement as the Hornets won eight of their last 13 games. Wizards point guard John Wall, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft, played together in a pickup game in Los Angeles on Wednesday. MLB West Division Texas National League WL Pct GB 43 27 .614 — Angels 37 32 .536 5.5 Athletics 32 36 .471 10 Seattle 30 41 .423 13.5 East Division WL Pct GB New York 41 27 .603 — Baltimore 39 30 .565 2.5 Tampa Bay 38 30 .559 3 Boston 34 33 .507 6.5 Toronto 35 34 .507 6.5 Central Division WL Pct GB Cleveland 36 32 .529 — Chicago 35 33 .515 1 Detroit 33 35 .485 3 Kansas City31 36 .463 4.5 Minnesota 27 40 .403 8.5 ------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday's results Ariza averaged 10.8 points and 5.2 rebounds, but was deactivated for the last few weeks of the season MLB West Division American League WL Pct GB Dodgers 42 26 .618 — Giants 38 31 .551 4.5 Arizona 34 35 .493 8.5 Colorado 25 42 .373 16.5 San Diego 24 46 .343 19 East Division WL Pct GB Washington 39 27 .591 — New York 38 32 .543 3 Atlanta 37 32 .536 3.5 Miami 33 35 .485 7 Philadelphia33 37 .471 8 Central Division WL Pct GB Cincinnati 38 30 .559 — Pittsburgh 35 32 .522 2.5 St. Louis 35 34 .507 3.5 Milwaukee 32 37 .464 6.5 Houston 28 41 .406 10.5 Chicago 24 44 .353 14 ------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday's results Philadelphia 7, Colorado 6 Today's games Colorado (Francis 0-1) at Philadelphia (Worley 3-3), 4:05 p.m. Atlanta 10, N.Y.Yankees 5 Kansas City 2, Houston 1 Milwaukee 8, Toronto 3 Arizona 14, Seattle 10 Texas 4, San Diego 2 Cleveland 8, Cincinnati 1 Minnesota 2, Pittsburgh 1 St. Louis 3, Detroit 1 Washington 3, Tampa Bay 2 N.Y. Mets 4, Baltimore 3 Miami at Boston, late Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox, late L.A. Dodgers at Oakland, late San Francisco at L.A. Angels, late Today's games St. Louis (Lohse 6-2) at Detroit (Turner 0- 0), 10:05 a.m. L.A. Dodgers (Kershaw 5-3) at Oakland (Blackley 1-2), 12:35 p.m. Minnesota (Hendriks 0-3) at Pittsburgh (Ja.McDonald 5-3), 4:05 p.m. Tampa Bay (M.Moore 4-5) at Washington (G.Gonzalez 8-3), 4:05 p.m. Miami (Zambrano 4-5) at Boston (Mat- suzaka 0-2), 4:10 p.m. Friday's Games Detroit at Pittsburgh, 4:05 p.m. Tampa Bay at Philadelphia, 4:05 p.m. Washington at Baltimore, 4:05 p.m. Atlanta at Boston, 4:10 p.m. Minnesota at Cincinnati, 4:10 p.m. N.Y.Yankees at N.Y. Mets, 4:10 p.m. Toronto at Miami, 4:10 p.m. Cleveland at Houston, 5:05 p.m. Colorado at Texas, 5:05 p.m. Milwaukee at Chicago White Sox, 5:10 p.m. St. Louis at Kansas City, 5:10 p.m. L.A. Dodgers at L.A. Angels, 7:05 p.m. San Francisco at Oakland, 7:05 p.m. Seattle at San Diego, 7:05 p.m. Grunfeld said Ariza and