With hoops under federal probe, fans say business as usual
Arenas were packed, fans were cheering and schools were competing.
In most places, it was a typical Saturday of college basketball. There was little visible hangover from the latest developments in the federal investigation of corruption in college basketball.
Coaches were taking the same tact they have been, some saying they’ve found no evidence of wrongdoing and appear to be waiting for the next shoe to drop.
Fans, for the most part, were not surprised—with some saying the circumstances have been reality in college hoops for a long time.
Others had fun with it.
At SMU, where the Mustangs were taking on No. 13 Wichita State, some students chanted “FBI! FBI!” and held balloons spelling out the name of the federal agency leading a corruption investigation that has led to 10 arrests of coaches and others alleged to have worked in the seamy underbelly of the sport. One of more than two dozen names mentioned as receiving impermissible benefits in documents in a Yahoo Sports report Friday was former Wichita State guard Fred VanVleet, now with the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.
In sentiments echoed by many coaches, Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said he didn’t know about the alleged payments but that his program overall has “nothing to hide.”
One school where officials were not enjoying themselves Saturday was Arizona.
Wildcats recruit Shareef O’Neal, son of former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, Saturday withdrew his commitment after ESPN reported coach Sean Miller was heard on a wiretap discussing a $100,000 payment to freshman Deandre Ayton to get him to sign with the school.
The Wildcats also announced that Miller would not coach Saturday night in No. 14 Arizona’s game at Oregon. The
school said Ayton would be eligible to play.
In Omaha, where Creighton played No. 3 Villanova, the Blue Jays were also been linked to possible violations.
According to a Yahoo Sports report, Christian Dawkins, who worked for former agent Andy Miller, may have bought dinner for former Creighton center Justin Patton and/or his family. Patton, who declared for the NBA draft as an underclassman after last season, wasn’t cited in Dawkins’ expense reports released Friday.
Patton did sign with ASM, but he fired Miller once the FBI released its initial findings in September.
Before practice Friday, Creighton coach Greg McDermott said he didn’t know if Dawkins had a meal with Patton. McDermott said he knew Dawkins met with Patton because McDermott also attended the meeting.
“So they took him to dinner. Big deal,” said 54-year-old Creighton fan Jim Belgrade, who has been attending games since he was 6.
Belgrade said there needs to be a crackdown if money is exchanging hands and that some fans are more concerned about the scandal than others.
“They will be if it’s a big-time school involved,” Belgrade said. “And there are people who say it’s the rules, and the rules are the rules, so we have to cap it some way. But will fans at Missouri Valley schools be worried about it? Probably not.”
Some players mentioned in the Yahoo Sports report were expected to play on Saturday, including Kentucky’s Kevin Knox against Missouri and Wendell Carter of Duke against Syracuse. Texas held out Eric Davis against Oklahoma while the Longhorns conduct their own investigation.
Former Maryland player Diamond Stone, who played one season for the Terrapins, was also mentioned as receiving an improper loan from an agent in the Yahoo Sports report.
“Obviously I was disappointed that a former player was acknowledged in this report,” Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said after the Terrapins were beaten 85-61 by No. 17 Michigan.
Turgeon, who said he prides himself on doing things the right way, added, “I have absolutely zero relationship with that agent or that agency. Wouldn’t know him if he walked into the room today.”
Michigan guard Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman said he is aware of the scandal, but that’s about as far as it goes.
“We still have to go out there and play the game. People didn’t pay us. I mean, there’s here and there,” Abdur-Rahkman said. “I don’t really think about it. I can’t speak for anyone else.”
Ken Tighe, a Terrapins season ticket holder since 2002, said college basketball has an issue that needs to be addressed.