The Syracuse University (SU) basketball program has received a letter of preliminary inquiry from the NCAA due to certain alleged violations committed over a period of years, according to media reports.
The violations are said to be major and wide-ranging in nature. The investigation is focused on the men's basketball team but also includes the football program.
The NCAA investigators had been interviewing sources from the university (current and former employees), since the last academic year, including former associate dean, David Potter, and SU professor and former dean Cathryn Newton.
"I don't have any idea what it's about and I'm sure my teammates don't know anything or I would have heard. To be honest, we are going to avoid any distractions and just focus on our game. When you get to the tournament, no games will be easy," Syracuse point guard Michael Carter-Williams, told ESPN.
The alleged violations might be based on the university players, James Southerland and Fab Melo's academic eligibilities; sexual assault case involving three players (Jonny Flynn, Scoop Jardine and Rick Jackson) in 2007 and 10 players being permitted to practice and play in games despite violating the university's drug policy.
The NCAA does its own drug testing during its tournaments or else it expects the universities to strictly follow its drug policies.
The NCAA, the college sports governing body, initially sends a preliminary notice to universities that an investigation is being conducted. Next, it examines all the allegations and then lists out the violations in detail.
The university has been only penalised once by the NCAA in 1992 regarding extra benefits in its basketball program.
