Southern Methodist University (SMU) accepted responsibility for NCAA violations committed by the men's basketball and golf programs, but criticized the NCAA for its punishment.
The SMU men's basketball team will be banned from postseason play in 2016 and will have nine scholarships reduced over the next three years. Additionally, head coach Larry Brown will be suspended nine games.
The NCAA announced the sanctions after determining a former administrative assistant and a student-athlete committed academic fraud. The NCAA also determined Brown did not immediately report the violation when he learned of it and then lied to investigators, earning him a lack of head coach control charge.
SMU stated it will review "the full report to determine if the University will appeal any findings and/or penalties."
"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 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."
ESPN previously reported that Ulric Maligi, a former basketball assistant, provided impermissible coursework help to Keith Frazier, now in his junior season. The NCAA's report did not name either the assistant or the student-athlete in question, but also apparently cleared Maligi.
"Leading the SMU men's basketball program is an honor and a responsibility that I take very seriously. That duty includes helping our young men develop into people of character and to ensuring that we pursue our goals with integrity," Brown said in the school's statement. "I am saddened and disappointed that the Committee on Infractions believes that I did not fully fulfill my duties and I will consider my options to challenge that assertion in the coming days. I truly believe that our program has dedicated itself unwaveringly to the ideals of academic integrity and NCAA compliance. Still, there was a violation in our program and I take responsibility for that and offer my sincere apologies to the University community."
