SPORTS
4
14MONDAY
MAY 12, 2003
w u.michigandaily.com
sportsdesk@umich.edu
Day of disappointment
Players committed
to stay at Michigan
By Michael Nisson
Daily Sports Editor
The point guard made two more riv-
eting points in his young career.
"No one gave any indication of leav-
ing," guard Daniel Horton said. "I am
not leaving."
Horton, who will be a sophomore,
gave the Maize and Blue faithful rea-.
son to feel positive about the NCAA
sanctions handed down last week when
he reassured the public that the Michi-
gan men's basketball team will be a
familiar one next season. He then
calmed the hearts of fans by including
himself among those players who have
said that they will be back next season
despite the postseason ban given to the
Wolverines by the NCAA Committee
on Infractions.
Horton was named Big Ten Fresh-
man of the Year last season, largely
because of his ability to perform well
in clutch situations. He was instrumen-
tal in Michigan's victories against Wis-
consin and Michigan State, where he
drained important last minute shots.
Although no one has expressed an
intention of leaving at this time, that's
not to say that the players like the
NCAA's decision.
"I believe it is not fair to us because
we work so hard on and off the court to
bring prestige back to this university,"
Horton said. "I believe that's not fair,
but at the same time that's life."
Center Graham Brown, who will be
a sophomore next year, had a similar
reaction when asked about how he
viewed the ruling.
"It was a shock when we first heard
the news, but after a couple minutes,
we knew we had to get over it and get
ready for next season," Brown said.
The players who will be affected the
most by the ruling are the two seniors
on this year's team, Bernard Robinson
Jr. and Colin Dill. If the NCAA does
not overturn its decision on the post-
season han, the seniors will graduate
having not participated in the NCAA
Tournament. The Wolverines were held
out of last year's NCAA Tournament
because of a self-inflicted one-year
postseason ban, and failed to reach it
the two years before that. Despite these
facts, Dill remained upbeat about next
season.
See PLAYERS, Page 1.8
TO,,
TONY DING/Daily
Michigan basketball coach Tommy Amaker addresses the media about another season without the hope of postseason play.
Coleman, Martin an to appeal
{
By Josh Holman "I think there are some mixed emo-
Daily Sports Editor tions," University President Mary Sue
Coleman said. "For one, it's a relief
If you heard a sound coming from that we can see the light at the end of
Crisler Arena on Thursday, it may have the tunnel, but there's disappointment.
been Michigan's Athletic Department I am disappointed in the postseason
letting out a collective sigh of relief. ban because I do think that dispropor-
After suffering more than five years of tionately affects young people who
investigations, a self-imposed one-year didn't have anything to do with this."
postseason ban and the shame of a fall- The University accepted most sanc-
en dynasty, Michigan's administration tions handed down by the NCAA
was able to find some sense of closure Committee on Infractions - including
when the NCAA announced its sanc- a loss of one scholarship per year for
tions for the University. four years (beeinning in the 2004-05
season) and a four-year probation peri-
od - but it has decided to appeal the
f one-year postseason ban.
f "We believe the additional postsea-
son ban is counter to the core mission
of the NCAA enforcement," Athletic
Director Bill Martin said. "Our current
student-athletes (and coaches) were
not involved in any way."
NCAA Bylaw 19.01.1 states that,
while considering possible penalties to
impose, the Infractions Committee
should "provide fairness to uninvolved
student-athletes, coaches, administra-
tors, competitors and other institu-
tions." A ruling on the University's
appeal is expected by the fall.
"Certainly it's not fair for these kids
not to be allowed to do certain things
See APPEAL, Page 18
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