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Pac-12 repsonds to the Commission of College Basketball report

By Mike Regalado

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: A basketball is shown in a ball rack before a semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament between the UCLA Bruins and the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats won 78-67 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: A basketball is shown in a ball rack before a semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament between the UCLA Bruins and the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats won 78-67 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Pac-12 Conference, which has been calling for change in college basketball, applauded the recommendations of the Commission of College Basketball report which details several changes that could benefit amateur hoops and end corruption in the sport.

A few weeks ago, the Pac-12 Conference created a task force to call for change in amateur basketball, specifically in the NCAA. Today, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott responded to the report by the Commission of College Basketball headed by Dr. Condoleeza Rice, which aims to do the same.

In his statement, Scott wrote that the recommendations in the report, “Reflect the Commission’s diligent work, its dedication to the integrity of college athletics, and its commitment to student-athletes. We are particularly pleased that many of the Rice Commission’s recommendations parallel those of the Pac-12 Task Force.”

In the last year, college basketball has been turned on its head as the FBI had investigated several top programs and coaches and apparel companies for giving and receiving improper benefits in an attempt to lure players and their families to their programs.

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Several coaches and apparel executives were arrested before the 2017-18 season for engaging in such malicious practices and since then, several more programs and players have been identified to have allegedly received improper benefits.

The fallout from this has sullied the good name of amateur basketball and because of it, the Pac-12, and now the Commission on College Basketball, are looking for ways to prevent this from happening again.

Scott continued, “We are also gratified that the Commission today emphasized the value of a college degree, and that its recommendations reflect our own Task Force’s view that there are ways to refine the rules governing eligibility to play college basketball that preserve the essential attributes of the collegiate model but provide a measure of flexibility that could safeguard against cheating and reduce perceptions of unfairness.”

Some of the recommendations by the Commission include:

  • Ending one-and-done (with the help of the NBA and NBPA)
  • Allowing athletes to maintain eligibility if they don’t sign a pro contract
  • Punishment for serious infractions include a 5-year post-season ban
  • Reformation of “Non-Scholastic Basketball” (i.e.: AAU), including transparency of finances
  • Rule changes for coach-recruit interaction

In making these changes, the Commission (and the Pac-12) hope to improve the atmosphere surrounding college basketball and their recruiting practices. Ultimately, they hope to avoid the mess and embarrassment that several programs have brought upon themselves over the last few seasons.

Though this is a start, it will take a while before these changes are accepted, implemented and upheld. As for now, we will probably hear more about programs that have engaged in wrongdoing than changes being made to avoid them.

Hopefully several other entities other than the Pac-12 are listening and taking this seriously so that fans of college basketball can enjoy the game itself and not get discouraged because of improper dealings by certain individuals that have corrupted the game.