NCAA Investigation into Indiana Basketball Program

[Steve19]

This is just bad for the Big Ten and college basketball. Indiana knew what the potential was for this guy when they hired him. If he is guilty of infractions, he should pay and so should they.

If the players don't want to play, put them in a room, threaten to pull their schollies, and move on. Loyalties to dishonest coaches have a way of crumbling when there is a price to be paid.

[BB73]

Originally Posted by Steve19

If the players don't want to play, put them in a room, threaten to pull their schollies, and move on. Loyalties to dishonest coaches have a way of crumbling when there is a price to be paid.

Word is that the players will follow the lead of D.J. White. And I think that in the case of D.J. White (and Eric Gordon), the threat of pulling their schollies would be less effective than saying "There are supposed to be 6 NBA scouts in the gym for the game, it's up to you if you want to play."

For the other players, though, the schollie thing might work.

[LitlBuck]

CBS SportsLine

Indiana officials have reached a decision to suspend Kelvin Sampson through the end of the season, multiple sources told CBSSports.com on Thursday and confirmed it again Friday afternoon.

An official announcement is expected sometime Friday.

The IU players were initially briefed Thursday, first in a select group of five by athletic director Rick Greenspan and then later as a team. They were delivered the final, etched-in-stone decision at a Friday meeting and were said to be disappointed because they wanted Sampson to finish the season.

A source said most of the players have backed off a threat delivered to Greenspan late Thursday to quit if Sampson was removed as coach, and it now appears they will play Saturday when the Hoosiers travel to Northwestern under the presumed guidance of assistant Dan Dakich.
According to the sources, IU's plan is to suspend Sampson now and formally terminate him at the end of the season. In other words, his career at Indiana is complete barring some unforeseen development -- all because of an NCAA report released last week that alleged he committed five major rules violations.

Among the charges was that Sampson lied to NCAA investigators and school administrators. Sampson has publicly denied the allegations. Sources have said it's possible he will appeal the decision and ultimately file a lawsuit against IU.

Sampson met with Greenspan on Friday before leaving Assembly Hall with his wife, Karen. Players, managers, assistant coaches and the coach's son, Kellen Sampson, then gathered in the locker room for what appeared to be a team meeting. No one would comment to reporters, including senior captain D.J. White. The meeting broke up about midday.

Continued

[sandgk]

And now the news conference is set for 6PM - but it being Indiana we'll count that as 7

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) - An expected news conference from IU has been delayed. 24-Hour News 8 has heard the conference will now begin around 6 p.m.

Meanwhile it seems that DJ White is indeed the nexus around which the "mutiny" has centered. Gordon not one of those following White's lead to skip practice ...

D.J. White and five other Indiana University basketball players were not at practice this afternoon at Assembly Hall.

Earlier, a person close to the team said players threatened to boycott Saturday's game at Northwestern if something happened to coach Kelvin Sampson.

The source said players will follow White's lead on whether to play.

White, Armon Bassett, Jordan Crawford, Jamarcus Ellis, DeAndre Thomas and Brandon McGee were not at practice.

Sampson wants the team to play on Saturday - no matter what.

Kelvin Sampson will meet with his team tonight and encourage them to play in Saturday's game at Northwestern regardless of his situation, a person close to the team said today.

Six players, including D.J. White, Armon Bassett, Jamarcus Ellis and Jordan Crawford, did not show up for a scheduled practice today at Assembly Hall.

Another person close to the team said players have threatened to boycott Saturday's game if Sampson is not the coach, and the team will follow D.J. White's lead on whether to play.

If they do play, perhaps McCallum will be coaching - unless this reported meeting had to do with his involvement (if any) in the telephone calls that are at the heart of the complaints against Sampson.

Twenty minutes before a scheduled practice today, Indiana University assistant basketball coach Ray McCallum met with athletic director Rick Greenspan. It is not known what they discussed. McCallum would seem to be a candidate to become interim head coach if Kelvin Sampson no longer is with the team. Earlier today, a person close to the team said players wanted McCallum to take over if that became necessary.

EDIT: Worth adding that there is no truth to the rumor that Eric Gordon has said he'll take on the Wildcats single-handed.

But, it is true that Pryor will not announce his commitment to Coach Bell at the upcoming news conference ....

[BB73]

The guys on ESPN (mostly Jay Bilas) were just saying that the delay is because they're negotiating a buyout of Sampson's contract along with his resignation, rather than a suspension/appeal/firing/possible lawsuit sequence. There was no mention of what that speculation was based on.

[BB73]

Andy Katz is now saying that an IU official confirmed that Sampson agreed to a $750,000 settlement, on the condition that he won't sue IU.

Dan Dakich will be the interim head coach.

[ScriptOhio]

Originally Posted by BB73

Andy Katz is now saying that an IU official confirmed that Sampson agreed to a $750,000 settlement, on the condition that he won't sue IU.

Dan Dakich will be the interim head coach.

If that is the case, IU got off cheap!!!

[BB73]

Originally Posted by ScriptOhio

If that is the case, IU got off cheap!!!

Monetarily, yes. They learned from the tOSU/O'Brien situation, and had better language in the contract that Sampson signed in 2006.

They still face sanctions after they submit their response to the NCAA in May.

[NastyDogg72]

ESPiN News is reporting the resignation and buyout right now.

The thing about this situation that is now concerning is the stance being taken by the players. I have always had respect for DJ White but if he is the catalyst for all of these defections amongst the players, my respect was misplaced. White has been a great ambassador for his school and he is throwing it all away by supporting a person with a checkered past. He should be stepping up right now and being a leader for his team and keeping them focused on the goals they set before the season. A conference championship and a run to the Final Four. Sampson broke the rules and he lied about it, in the real world your actions have repercussions and he has nobody to blame for whats happening right now except for the person he sees in the mirror. Players staking their reputation on supporting a cheater are doing nothing more than lowering their credibility.

[ScriptOhio]

Thad Matta's name surfaces again for the IU job.

Five quality candidates that Indiana should consider

So where will IU turn? Here are five quality candidates, in order of preference and reality, whom the Hoosiers should consider:

Thad Matta, Ohio State. Would he leave one really good job for another in the same league? Maybe not. But the main reason nobody thought Matta would leave the Buckeyes two years ago was Greg Oden, and he's not around anymore.

Matta is a phenomenal recruiter with a Final Four on his r?sum? and strong ties in the state of Indiana. He also has a track record of moving around, albeit for jobs that made plenty of sense (Butler to Xavier to Ohio State in short order). Maybe working at a basketball-first school would make sense to a guy toiling in the shadow of king football in Columbus.

Entire article: ESPN - Five quality candidates that Indiana should consider - Columnist

[tibor75]

Of course IU should target Matta. he's a great coach. No harm in asking.

[Best Buckeye]

Statement from Kelvin Sampson

Courtesy of Indiana Media Relations:

I have made the very difficult decision to leave my position as head coach of the men?s basketball team at Indiana University. While I? m saddened that I will not have the opportunity to continue to coach these student athletes, I feel that it is in the best interest of the program for me to step aside at this time.
I wish my players and staff nothing but the best for the remainder of the season. They are all truly incredible people. As I have previously stated, I welcome the opportunity to go before the Committee on Infractions in June. I look forward to getting back on the basketball court in the very near future.

[Best Buckeye]

Dakich statement

? By Chris | Friday, February 22, 2008 at 8:35 pm | No Comments ?

This was just released by IU media relations:
?Indiana University and the basketball program have played an important role
in my life. I want nothing but the best for these players and the
institution. The challenge ahead is to maintain the positive momentum that
has been built within the team and to keep everyone as focused as possible
during this difficult time.?

[Best Buckeye]

Full IU press release

? By Chris | Friday, February 22, 2008 at 8:39 pm

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ? Indiana University Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan
announced today (Feb. 22) that he has accepted the immediate resignation of
men?s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson.
Greenspan appointed assistant coach Dan Dakich as interim head coach and
assistant coach Ray McCallum as assistant head coach.
Dakich, who joined the Indiana staff this season, is a 1985 IU graduate,
four-year basketball letterwinner and worked for 12 years as a Hoosiers
assistant coach, before spending the past 10 years as head coach at Bowling
Green. As a player, the two-time team captain (1984 and 1985) is best
remembered for his excellent defensive effort against Michael Jordan in
Indiana?s upset of North Carolina in the 1984 NCAA Tournament.
Formerly the head coach at both Ball State and Houston, Ray McCallum has 25
years of Division I college coaching experience which followed a stellar
playing career at Ball State. McCallum, well known in basketball circles
nationally for his integrity and exceptional dedication to the game, is
well-respected and admired by players and fellow coaches alike.
Neither Dakich nor McCallum were implicated in the NCAA notice of
allegations. Additionally, McCallum was not a member of the University of
Oklahoma men?s basketball staff previously charged with impermissible phone
calls by the NCAA.
As part of the resignation agreement, Sampson will be paid $750,000, of
which $200,000 will come from Athletic Department funds and the remainder is
being provided by an anonymous donor. Sampson, in turn, has agreed that he
will not file a wrongful termination lawsuit against Indiana University.
?I am very sorry to see our relationship with Coach Sampson end this way,
but we have to focus on doing what?s best for the long-term interests of IU
and its men?s basketball team,? Greenspan said.
Two weeks ago, IU received a ?Notice of Allegations? from the National
Collegiate Athletic Association advising it that Sampson and other members
of his staff are charged with potentially ?major? recruiting violations.
In response, IU President Michael A. McRobbie had directed Greenspan to
review the allegations, determine if they were credible and report back to
him by Feb. 22. Because of the resignation, there was no need for Greenspan
to report back to the president.
McRobbie said he has approved the resignation agreement.
?I have accepted the resignation of Kelvin Sampson in order to put this
matter behind us and allow our basketball season to move forward without
these distractions,? McRobbie said.
McRobbie said he is very much aware of the disappointment being felt by many
members of the basketball team.
?They have been playing their hearts out on the court in spite of all the
controversy and media attention that has been focused on this issue,? he
said. ?I am grateful to each and every one of them for their perseverance
and loyalty to this university.?

[Jaxbuck]

I've never forgiven IU for Darkest Day I or II. [censored] 'em, I hope they get drilled by the NCAA after its all said and done.