The NCAA slapped Oklahoma State men’s basketball with a postseason ban on Monday, just over four years after the FBI’s investigation into college basketball.
Oklahoma State appealed a postseason ban ruling from the 2021 season roughly 17 months ago. The Cowboys were allowed to play in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, but are now banned from the 2022 tournament.
An obviously irate head coach Mike Boynton slammed the NCAA after the news broke:
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Mike Boynton took a blowtorch to the NCAA on Wednesday. Called out enforcement staff by name. Said the only violation they committed was a secondary violation they self-reported.
“It’s no wonder that nobody trusts them. They get to hide behind letters.” pic.twitter.com/Ao72n3pHq1
— Kyle Boone (@Kyle__Boone) November 3, 2021
Here are more details from CBS Sports:
The NCAA also upheld all of its original punishments, including a three-year probationary period that will start effective immediately and end Nov. 3, 2024; a scholarship reduction of three over an unspecified period of time; and other recruiting restrictions (such as fewer days on the road, fewer official visits and phone call limitations) that were previously put in place and adhered to by Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma State was one of four schools that had an assistant arrested by the FBI in late September 2017. That assistant, Lamont Evans, pled guilty in January 2019 and eventually spent three months in federal prison. Evans was found to have acted unethically and illegally after being captured on federal wiretaps and surreptitious videos. Evidence obtained by the federal government caught Evans willingly participating in a plot to recruit players to a basketball/marketing agency while he was employed by Oklahoma State and, prior to that, South Carolina. Evans was proven to have accepted at least $18,150 in bribes — all of it money unknowingly provided by the federal government during its sting operation. Evans was working with Christian Dawkins, a former runner for a sports agency, who was trying to build out his own business for future basketball clients. Dawkins was convicted in May 2019.
Evans, who never had to speak at trial due to pleading guilty, did not cooperate with the NCAA’s investigation. That was a factor in Oklahoma State’s punishment, a source told CBS Sports. Everything else the NCAA acted upon was based off of what was provided in federal court. Oklahoma State is being punished for lack of cooperation (strictly from Evans) and unethical conduct, plus the fact Evans accepted dirty money.
Here are some thoughts on the bizarre decision from the NCAA (which isn’t surprising of course since they blow practically every decision):
South Carolina and USC didn’t get hit with any postseason ban, but Oklahoma State gets one.
Isaac Likekle wasn’t even committed to Oklahoma State when all of this occured. Cowboys freshmen class was in the 7th grade at the time.
This is ridiculous. https://t.co/AAjzhLzxmb
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) November 3, 2021
For those keeping score at home:
Mark Few drunk driving: 1 game suspension
Kofi Cockburn selling merch then donating profits to charity: 3 game suspension
Oklahoma State players/coaches who had nothing to do with the violation: Postseason suspension
Will Wade: Still has job https://t.co/A2yWkNbGAJ
— Matt Sak (@MattSakBBN) November 3, 2021
Multiple transfers committed to Oklahoma State this offseason. Now none of them can have an opportunity to play in the 2022 postseason.
Completely unfair to them and ALL players in that program.
A miscarriage of justice! https://t.co/3jmTELeel5
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 3, 2021
