NCAA Investigates Cincinnati

The NCAA has concluded that the rules violations uncovered in coach Bob Huggins' basketball program are major and deserve more investigation, the University of Cincinnati announced Friday.

The NCAA has sent the university a notice of official inquiry that alleged a lack of institutional control over Huggins' program.

Point guard Charles Williams and forward Ruben Patterson received lengthy suspensions last season for myriad violations of NCAA rules. John Loyer, one of Huggins' top assistants, remains on paid leave because of his involvement in the infractions.

Numerous other violations involving other players occurred over a 16-month period that is the main focus of the NCAA's investigation.

The university could be stripped of basketball scholarships, barred from postseason play and receive two years' probation if the NCAA concludes it is guilty of the allegations.

The 17-page letter of inquiry asks for more information about violations that the university uncovered and reported to the NCAA. If the university responds by June 24, the NCAA's Committee on Infractions could consider the program's fate during a meeting Aug. 7-10.

The NCAA's letter of inquiry included a new charge that "the university failed to exercise appropriate institutional control" over the basketball program." The violations occurred under Huggins and athletic director Gerald O'Dell, who resigned last August amid a feud with the coach.

"Part of my job is to find why did that supervision, why did that monitoring, fall apart?" said Bob Goin, who became athletic director last October, at the end of the university's investigation.

Goin said the coach and the athletic director are responsible for monitoring the program. He noted that Huggins has not been named directly in any of the violations.

"I know about Bobby Huggins and I consider him to be an honorable man that may have made some (honest) mistakes," Goin said.

Goin has told Huggins not to comment until the NCAA's investigation is complete. Huggins didn't attend the news conference.

Huggins' contract, which runs through the 2004-05 season, requires him to follow NCAA rules and "endeavor to ensure that all assistant coaches" follow them, too. The contract says he can be fired if he committed any "deliberate and major violation ... of any of his obligations" to follow the rules and run the program properly.

In order for Huggins to be punished, there "would have to be strong evidence that he personally was involved in causing the sanctions," Goin said.

Huggins' program has been marked by arrests and suspensions for various rules violations in recent years. Five players were suspended last season - four for violating NCAA rules, another for violating an unspecified team rule.

Williams, who essentially got a one-season suspension from the NCAA for receiving improper benefits with Loyer's help, sued the university on Monday asking for a least $175,000. The lawsuit alleges that the university was negligent in failing to follow NCAA rules.

Patterson sat out the first 14 games for various infractions, including receiving improper benefits from an employer with ties to the athletic program.

Cincinnati won the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles last season before losing in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The NCAA does not comment on pending cases, staff assistant Vicki Steele said Friday.

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