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St. John's was placed on two years' probation and will lose one scholarship next season for making improper payments to a former men's basketball player.
The NCAA's committee on infractions on Thursday accepted all of the school's self-imposed penalties, which included a postseason tournament ban in 2004-05, a reduction of one scholarship in 2005-06 and 2006-07, vacating all wins in which former player Abe Keita participated and returning 90 percent of the money it received from the Big East for participating in the 2002 NCAA tournament.
St. John's athletic director Chris Monasch was satisfied with the decision.
``We're very pleased,'' Monasch said. ``We feel we have a stronger program in place and there is now a point of emphasis with compliance by the athletic department and the university.''
Keita alleged he was given $300 each month by a member of the basketball staff, and an investigation by the school found evidence to support the claim, violating the NCAA's ``extra-benefit'' rules.
The school said the violations involved only one player and that the inquiry involved no current players, coaches or other athletic staff. The school said it believes the funds were provided with a humanitarian intent, but the payments still were judged to be inappropriate and unacceptable.
Committee chairman Gene Marsh credited the cooperation of former director of basketball operations Alex Evans and the quick response by St. John's officials as reasons more severe sanctions were not issued. Evans admitted wrongdoing during the investigation and testified before the committee in February.
http://sportsillustrated.netscape.cnn.com/sports/story.jsp?floc=sp-main-14-l3&flok=FF-APO-2060&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20060511%2F1748718923.htm&sc=2060
The NCAA's committee on infractions on Thursday accepted all of the school's self-imposed penalties, which included a postseason tournament ban in 2004-05, a reduction of one scholarship in 2005-06 and 2006-07, vacating all wins in which former player Abe Keita participated and returning 90 percent of the money it received from the Big East for participating in the 2002 NCAA tournament.
St. John's athletic director Chris Monasch was satisfied with the decision.
``We're very pleased,'' Monasch said. ``We feel we have a stronger program in place and there is now a point of emphasis with compliance by the athletic department and the university.''
Keita alleged he was given $300 each month by a member of the basketball staff, and an investigation by the school found evidence to support the claim, violating the NCAA's ``extra-benefit'' rules.
The school said the violations involved only one player and that the inquiry involved no current players, coaches or other athletic staff. The school said it believes the funds were provided with a humanitarian intent, but the payments still were judged to be inappropriate and unacceptable.
Committee chairman Gene Marsh credited the cooperation of former director of basketball operations Alex Evans and the quick response by St. John's officials as reasons more severe sanctions were not issued. Evans admitted wrongdoing during the investigation and testified before the committee in February.
http://sportsillustrated.netscape.cnn.com/sports/story.jsp?floc=sp-main-14-l3&flok=FF-APO-2060&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20060511%2F1748718923.htm&sc=2060
