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SPOTS
WEDNESDAY
FEBRUARY 9, 2000
12
Crawford, Barkley face similar cases
NCAA on patrol 9
Both Michigan freshman guard Jamal Crawford and St. John's sophomore guard Erick
Barkley are sitting at home suspended by the NCAA for similar violations. Both will
have to watch their teams play on the road ... on television. St. John's and Michigan
administrations have made NCAA appeals, and expect responses by the end of the
week. Here's the scoop on both suspensions.
By Mark Francescutti
DlY Sports Editor
Yesterday was probably a normal
day for Jamal Crawford - well,
almost. '
He had classes to attend, meals to
'at and basketball practice.
But he didn't get on the team bus to
Illinois.
Crawford is at home in his dorm
room today, while his team is away.
The Wolverines are in Champaign
preparing to face the Fighting Illini
tonight.
. The freshman guard and leading
scorer for the Wolverines will serve his
third game of a six-game suspension
handed down by the NCAA last week
for violating an NCAA bylaw dealing
with amateurism.
According to the NCAA ruling,
Crawford took extra benefits from -a
family friend in Seattle, Barry
Henthorn. As part of the ruling
Cawford has to repay any extra bene-
fits adding up to more than S15,000 to
'.,Hlnthorn.
Crawford may be alone at home, but
one NCAA player knows how he feels.
St. John's sophomore point guard
Erick Barkley is serving a three-game
suspension for violating a similar rule.
Barkley sat at home yesterday, left
to only watch on TV as The Red Storm
beat Providence, 61-46.
Barkley averaged 16.9 points, 4.1
assists and 2.6 rebounds for St. Johns
(14-6).
But while they share punishments,
Barkley's case is somewhat different
than Crawford's.
Barkley's suspension stems from
him swapping a Jeep Cherokee for a
more valuable car with a family friend.
A source close to the situation told
the Associated Press that Barkley has
known the family friend in question
since 10th grade, and that the NCAA
suspected that the friend was acting as
an agent for Barkley.
ESPN reported yesterday that St.
John's was contesting that charge
under the belief that the two had a pre-
existing relationship.
In Crawford's case, the freshman
received benefits from Henthorn, a
long-time friend of his family. While
Henthorn wasn't Crawford's legal
guardian, Crawford's mother asked
him to be in a letter.
Michigan officials didn't think the
NCAA would rule against Crawford
after they had self-reported the possi-
ble violation, ending a month-long
internal investigation. Michigan
Athletic Director Tom Goss, who was
forced to announce his resignation
yesterday, and Michigan coach Brian
Ellerbe both said they were shocked by
the NCAA's handling of the Crawford
case.
St. John's officials showed a similar
astonishment, but fought back with a
fury of comments over the weekend.
St. John's athletic director Ed
Manetta Jr. said that under NCAA pro-
cedures, a player is guilty until proven
innocent.
St. John's assistant coach Mike
Jarvis called the NCAA ruling ludi-
crous.
"We're not happy with it," Jarvis
said. "It's not fair. There's no appeal
process. Even if you do, the kid does-
n't get the games back. This young
man has done absolutely, positively
nothing wrong"
Jarvis called the situation
"Communist totalitarianism" and
described the NCAA as "the Gestapo,"
likening it to the German police in
World War II He also said he felt like
he had been raped.
He later apologized for his com-
ments.
Yes, there's still a basketball
season: 'M' faces Illini tonight
By Chris Duprey
Daily Sports Editor
Just in case anyone forgot, a
reminder is issued.
Michigan has a basketball team.
The season is still going on.
And as a matter of fact, the
Wolverines play tonight.
Lost in the periphery of several off-
court issues with both the basketball
team and the athletic department,
Michigan travels to Champaign
tonight for a rematch with Illinois, a
tealn it beat 95-91 in overtime at
Crisler Arena on Jan. 16.
But the setting is much different
now. At the time, the victory over
11inois pushed Michigan to 2-1 in the
- Oference - an ensuing gimme vic-
Adrv over Northwestern would make
'hii 3-1 - and it appeared that the
then- 12-3 Wolverines were on the
rise:
Only, much like the Cliffhanger
nan on The Price Is Right, it appears
the Wolverines have fallen off the
e6dge. Now, Michigan is dealing with
Jamal Crawford's absence - serving
the third game of a yet-to-be-ruled-on
appeal of a six-game suspension by
the NCAA - the fallout of athletic
d.iector Tom Goss' resignation, and a
6'wpward slide of three straight loss-
.e f 20 points or more.
"We just completed a very difficult
swig, and it seems like it's going to
continue," Michigan coach Brian
Elierbe said. "We're proud of the
guys' effort in thepast couple of
games, and our psyche is pretty good
fox' ahat's been going on."
& bad as. theWolverines situatin.
is tight now, they're not out of NCAA
Tournament contention. They let a
road win at Iowa slip away down the
stretch, a game that might be pointed
toif Michigan ends up in the NIT. But
loses at Indiana and to Michigan
Stafe and Ohio State were not unex-
peeted. Beating even one of those
Both schools are appealing the deci-
sion. With the help of University
administrators, Michigan turned in its
appeal Monday.
Even if Michigan does win the
appeal, Crawford will still have to sit
for the Illinois game. A victory only
reduces the suspension in half to three
games.
Michigan officials hope that a
response will come in the next few
days, enough time for Crawford to
return for Sunday's game at Crisler
Arena against Indiana.
After hearing multiple options
included in St. Johns' appeal the
NCAA did not reinstate the star point
guard yesterday.
Instead, the NCAA contacted the
school requesting more clarification,
leaving Barkley ineligible for the
Providence game.
"We're disappointed and think the
ruling is unfortunate," Manetta Jr. said.
"We appealed immediately and that's
the process we're in right now and that
started Saturday. We have moved on to
the next committee in the process and
are hoping for a ruling from it by late
Thursday or Friday morning."
- The Associated Press
contributed to this report.
TONIGHT
ASSEMBLY HALL
Who: Michigan (35 Big Ten 127 overll) at
IMinos (54,13-7)
When: 8 p.m. EST
Injuries: Illinois - Ntacs Griffin (doubtful)
Michigan -Jamal Crawfird (suspended)
TV WAD. TV 38 Derat
Radio: WIKA 1050 AM, qR 760 AM
The Latest: Without Jamal Cra ond, Michin is
shorthanedat the pointguard posriotaQach
Brian Ellerbe said he might have to play Rmal
Hunter, a hardly-used reserveif Kevin Gaines gets
intofoultruble.
History book
A closer look at the last three
Michigan-Illinois matchups in
Champaign:
JAN. 25, 1998. ILLNOIS 64,
MICHIGAN 53: Things looked good
for the Wolverines, who closed to
within 33-30 at the half after fac-
ing double-digit deficits early. But
a five-minute drought early in the
second half proved to be too cost-
ly, as Michigan was held to its low-
est point total of the season.
MARCH 2, 1997. ILLINOIS 70,
MICHIGAN 51: Michigan lost its
final game in a six-game losing
streak that would cause it to miss
the tournament. The Wolverines
opened a 42-29 lead with 14:17
left in the game, but couldn't even
score 10 points the rest of the way.
Kiwane Garris went nuts for the
Illini down the stretch, and
Michigan was sent home a loser
again.
MARCH 3, 1996. ILLINOIS 73,
MICHIGAN 62: Four p layers scored
in double figures for both teams,
but Illinois kept Michigan at bay
down the stretch, despite the
Wolverines winning the war on
the offensive boards, 17-7.
adversity tonight, with its season
potentially on the line. There will be
no Crawford, there will be no Maize
Rage - but for the Wolverines, there
must also be no slow start, no defen-
sive lapses, no mental breakdowns.
"They're a talented team, and
they're feeling pretty good right now,"
Ellerbe said of Illinois. "They'll be
shooting at us, because they probably
thought they should've won the last
game."
SUSPENSION LENGTH: Six gamesli
WHY: Crawford took benefits from a family friend, Barry
Henthom, in his latter high school years. Crawford's moth=
er asked Henthom to be Jamal's guardian, but did not file
the appropriate legal documents. Michigan officials stress-
that Crawford did not do anything wrong. Crawford also
has to pay back any benefits (up to $15,000) he may have
received, if he stays at Michigan. Crawford could be back
for Indiana if the appeal goes through before Sunday -
otherwise, he is scheduled to return for Purdue on Feb. 24
R
Crawford'
ERICK BARKLEY
St. John's sophomore point guard
Averages 16.9 points per game, 4.1 assists per game
9
SUSPENSION LENGTH: Three games
WHY: Barkley exchanged his Jeep Grand Cherokee
for a more expensive car with a family friend. St.
Johns officials stress that Barkley did nothing wrong,
and that it was a pre-existing relationship. The
NCAA may think otherwise. Barkley may have to
repay the difference in cash back to the friend. The
sophomore is expected to return Feb. 15 for a game a
Boston College.
Barkley
NCAA investigating
Marshall athletics
Professor allegedly helped football
players cheat with course exams
JAMAL CRAWFORD
Michigan freshman guard
Averages 16.6 points per game, 4.2 assists per game
a,
By Aaron E. Runyon
The Parthenon (Marshall U.)
(U-WIRE) HUNTINGTON,
W.Va.- Marshall University is under
investigation by the NCAA and Mid-
American Conference for an alleged
unethical conduct violation in which
sources say a professor gave several
students, including members of the
Thundering Herd football team, exam
materials prior to testing during a first
session summer school class.
An anonymous source told The
Associated Press that an assistant pro-
fessor and member of the coaching
staff gave a study guide to several stu-
dents during a summer class session
and told them to read it over.
That study guide was the actual test,
the source said.
Neither the university, NCAA or
MAC has specified the allegations,
including the class or players involved.
The professor has since resigned.
Gary Richter, MAC associate com-
missioner for communications,
declined to specify investigations, say-
ing that it was up to the university to
currently decide what was released on
the matter.
The Athletic Department reported
itself to the NCAA and MAC in
October, after becoming aware of the
allegation.
"We're obligated by the NCAA,
MAC and the university to report any-
time we know or hear of any possible
violations," Marshall University com-
pliance officer David Ridpath said
Monday. "If we don't report, that's
when it becomes problematic.
A university statement issued to The
Parthenon on Monday read:.
"Marshall University officials
became aware of an allegation involv-
ing unethical conduct involving student
athletes and conducted a thorough and
comprehensive academic and athletic
investigation.
"Upon learning of this allegation, the
university immediately filed a detailed
report on the investigation with the
Mid-American Conference and the
NCAA.
"Currently the Mid-American
Conference and the NCAA are con-
ducting a routine review of the report
filed by the university" . .,
Should the NCAA determine a
major violation was committed,-the
result could be probation, scholarship
reduction, recruiting limitations a
ban from postseason play, said I
Robinson, the MAC's associate cm-
missioner for compliance and legisla-
tive services.
The mildest punishment for a wec-
ondary violation would be a lettX-of
reprimand.
Keith Spears, Marshall's vice presi-
dent of communications, said Marshall
would voice its stand on the matter
once they received instructions s@-
ming from the investigation. Marshall
is granted the right to appeal an NCAA
ruling if it is perceived as unjust ,he
said.
"We've self reported it to the NCAA,
but they have not reported that we've
broken any infractions," Spears said.
"The NCAA may decide to rule one
way but we may say 'wait a minute,
that was not the way we reported it:s In
that case there would be an appeal.
"This is still an ongoing inves-
tion," he said. "We're currently waiting
on further instructions from 'the
NCAA. A process is underway and the
fact that we are in the process makes it
hard for us to comment. We're, not
going to get into personalities and
specifics."
The allegation is the latest to-hit
Marshall. In July, Marshall reported a
violation of NCAA rules over a ba l's
sponsorship of the football team's ro-
motional tour.
A bank can host such an event, but
by placing ads for it, the bank was con-
sidered a cosponsor in violation of
NCAA rules.
In 1969, the league suspended
Marshall indefinitely and the NCAA
placed it on one year's probation after
144 football recruiting violations were
revealed.
In 1989, the men's basketball#o-
gram was placed on two years' proa-
tion and in 1991 was banned from post-
season play after NCAA rules infrac-
tions were uncovered. Coach Rick
Huckabay resigned after the school
reported the violations.
LaVell Blanchard and the Wolverines are inI
with Illinois.
teams was a wish-list scenario at best.
The bottom line is, Michigan needs
to finish at least 18-11 to have a fair
chance at being selected for the
NCAA's 64-team field. Currently, the
Wolverines stand at 12-7.
This means that Michigan must win
six games of its remaining 10 -- the
most likely candidates are at
Wisconsin, Penn State, at
Northwestern, Iowa and a probable
Big Ten Tournament first-round win
against a lower-seeded opponent.
Of the remaining games, tonight's
contest at Illinois and a home game
against Purdue are the next best pos-
sibilities. Winning at Michigan State
is less probable than Alf making a
return to network television.
So Michigan must brave the face of
e3..
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