Pacific self-imposes postseason ban, scholarship reductions

The University of the Pacific announced Friday that it will self-impose penalties on the men’s basketball program stemming from an NCAA investigation into academic misconduct allegations.

The University of the Pacificannounced Friday that it will self-impose penalties on the men’s basketball program stemming from an NCAA investigation into academic misconduct allegations, including a postseason ban in 2016.

Pacific called the investigation cooperative with the NCAA. The ban includes the West Coast Conference tournament in addition to any other invitational tourneys. The school will also reduce the number of available basketball scholarships by six for the next three years, and also “limit recruiting efforts in other areas.”

Current players will remain on scholarship. Athletic director Ted Leland said in a statement that Level I violations, the most serious type of NCAA rule infractions, had occurred. The university has determined that men’s basketball staffers provided impermissible academic assistance to student-athletes. On Dec.11, head coach Ron Verlin and assistant coach Dwight Young were suspended.

"This is a difficult decision to make, but it seems clear that Level I violations have occurred, and thus immediate actions by the university are warranted," said Leland. "Taking these actions at this stage demonstrates our steadfast commitment to integrity and fair play, and serves as a crucial step for moving the program forward."

The NCAA investigation remains ongoing.

- Jeremy Woo