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Can SMU Basketball Be Saved?

By Reid Hanson

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News broke yesterday that SMU Basketball would be banned from postseason play for the upcoming season. Can SMU basketball be saved?

Academic fraud, lying to investigators, and the track record of non-compliance all played a part in the punishment handed down by the NCAA Tuesday afternoon.  As first reported by ESPN, SMU Basketball will be banned from postseason play this season, they will lose nine scholarships over the next three years, and head coach Larry Brown will be suspended for nine games (20%) of the upcoming season.

"“These choices included not reporting possible violations in the program, initially lying to the enforcement staff during the investigation, and providing no specific guidance to his staff on rules compliance,” stated the NCAA."

This obviously isn’t the first time SMU or Larry Brown have had their run-ins with the NCAA. Brown has been guilty of violations with both UCLA and Kansas in the past. This current situation is the 10th major infractions case for SMU, more than any other athletics program. Sadly, SMU athletics, is best known for being the only Division 1 school to receive the dreaded “Death Penalty” which officially ended their football program for two years and did nearly unimaginable damage to its future.

SMU first acknowledged they were under investigation in January. The NCAA’s committee, led by Pepperdine’s chancellor, Michael Adams, admitted SMU’s history of transgressions played a part in the punishment, but denied Larry Brown’s sorted past had any influence.

Can SMU Basketball be saved?

That’s the million dollar question, of which, we do not yet have an answer. SMU basketball has been on a clear up-tick since Larry Brown came on board four years ago. The Hall of Fame head coach has survived many scandals in the past, but at 75, time is not on his side.

SMU was poised for a postseason run this season. They are easily a top-25 team this year and with two of their top players seniors, the time is clearly NOW. If the punishment is levied, it could effectively end the relevance of the program as we know it.

Reduced scholarships, graduating seniors, and the unknown future of Larry Brown would all work against the program when recruiting. The program simply can’t afford to be punished…this season.

"“While we accept responsibility for violations, the individuals responsible for the infractions have been held accountable both by the University and by the Committee on Infractions,” SMU said in a statement. “To punish the student-athletes in the men’s basketball [program] by prohibiting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in the postseason is simply wrong. It is not what our system of governance should be about and we are considering our response.”"

The operative words here are, “considering our response” as in contemplating appeal…an appeal process that may stretch through the entire 2016 NCAA season. SMU has 15 days from Tuesday to accept their punishment or appeal. It’s hard to think of any reason they would simply accept the punishment and subsequently doom their program on the cusp of a promising season.

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The argument that SMU made in their statement about punishing innocent student-athletes along with the guilty ones, is not a new argument. But that doesn’t make it invalid either. If SMU and/or the NCAA does indeed punish the guilty parties (school officials, coaching staff, players involved), why do they need to also punish those who are clearly innocent and unknowing of the entire situation?

Based on the history of appeals, an appeal could last the better half of a year. By then SMU could theoretically have finished their postseason run. Even if they lost the appeal and were forced to vacate the tournament wins, SMU would be better off, having had the national exposure. After all, it’s hard to un-remember wins in the NCAA tournament.

If appealed, Larry Brown could retire after the season, without having served a single game. The program could rebuild without their graduated seniors (they would have to anyway), and the program would be fresh in the minds of recruits, having seen them compete in the NCAA tournament.

SMU needs this postseason for their men’s basketball program. They are a top-25 team that needs the national exposure, even if it’s vacated in the end. Larry Brown isn’t young enough to stand by and rebuild again. Guilty or not, SMU needs to find a way to kick the can on this penalty so-to-speak.

Unless the NCAA and SMU can come to a mutual compromise in advance (possibly remove Larry Brown completely), a lengthy appeals process is the only way for SMU men’s basketball to survive.

Next: SMU Football: Bowl game or bust

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