The NCAA, where it pays to cheat

[JTG]

I really hate that Syracuse is being rewarded with a Final Four, after their coach serves a 9 game suspension, they lose 12 future scholarships, and have 108 victories vacated. All they had to with Syracuse's shaky record was not invite them, but no that doesn't happen. Meanwhile UNC has had a massive academic athletic scandal going on for over a year now.

[paulxu]

Meanwhile UNC has had a massive academic athletic scandal going on for over a decade now.

Fixed that for you.

[GoMuskies]

It's not an athletic academic scandal at UNC. It's worse than that. It's just a plain ole academic scandal.

[X-band '01]

Look on the bright side - had you told me at the beginning of the tournament that the winner of the Dayton-Syracuse game was going to go to the Final 4, we would have been begging Syracuse to win from the get-go.

[TUclutch]

I really hate that Syracuse is being rewarded with a Final Four, after their coach serves a 9 game suspension, they lose 12 future scholarships, and have 108 victories vacated. All they had to with Syracuse's shaky record was not invite them, but no that doesn't happen. Meanwhile UNC has had a massive academic athletic scandal going on for over a year now.

I don't like Syracuse either, but it's a HUGE stretch to use the phrase "rewarded with a final four".

[JTG]

I don't like Syracuse either, but it's a HUGE stretch to use the phrase "rewarded with a final four".

The point is: They should NEVER have been afforded the opportunity. I hope they get beat by 50. Boeheim is a slimy asshole.

[mistabeecee41]

Boehim is scum, we all know that, but this still sounds like sour grapes. We shit the bed, they got hot at the right time. Congrats to those kids who have worked their asses off all season, THEY (not Jim) deserve it.

EDIT :

Think about what your stance would be if we made it out of the other side of that bracket. We would be thrilled that we're playing 10 seeded Syracuse in the Final 4, and we'd be thanking the selection committee for including them. Instead, we're complaining about it.

[NY44]

I personally go back and forth on NCAA scandals. I know these 2 programs are out right despicable and make boat loads of money off of reaching the Final Four, but I think in a basketball sense, their achievement is totally legitimate. The players weren't a part of the scandal and I hate how almost all NCAA punishments hurt players and recruits the most.

[GoMuskies]

I think it's unbelievable that Syracuse still seems committed to Hopkins being their coach when Boeheim decides to move on to his next role as Satan's right hand man. Hopkins lost to St. John's and Georgetown with this team!

[paulxu]

Hah!


The Final Four matchups are now set. In one national semifinal, we have Villanova vs. Oklahoma. In the other, we have On Probation vs. Under Investigation

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/on-probation-vs--under-investigation--final-four-marred-by-schools-with-scandals-045055152-ncaab.html

[GIMMFD]

It's not an athletic academic scandal at UNC. It's worse than that. It's just a plain ole academic scandal.

I thought it was an athlete paper class though? I'm not 100% on details of the situation, because it just annoyed me to where I didn't care about reading about it.

[GoMuskies]

No, it's paper classes for the whole student body. I think a half or less of the kids involved were athletes.

[TUclutch]

The point is: They should NEVER have been afforded the opportunity. I hope they get beat by 50. Boeheim is a slimy asshole.

What are you talking about? They broke rules yes. Could the punishment have been harsher? maybe. Is Boeheim still a dick. Yes. Point is they served their punishments and suspensions. Are dealing with less scholarships. They earned the spot. Can't keep them out just to keep them out.

[XUFan09]

I don't like Syracuse either, but it's a HUGE stretch to use the phrase "rewarded with a final four".

Yeah, that part was weird. The NCAA didn't make sure that Michigan State and Utah both lost before Syracuse could face them, nor did they tell UVA (the only good team they faced) to stop scoring down the stretch on Sunday.

[JTG]

What are you talking about? They broke rules yes. Could the punishment have been harsher? maybe. Is Boeheim still a dick. Yes. Point is they served their punishments and suspensions. Are dealing with less scholarships. They earned the spot. Can't keep them out just to keep them out.

Bullshit, the invitations are invitations. They could have decided there are teams more worthy and left Syracuse out. No one would have argued that Belmont was more worthy than Syracuse. On another note, although I like PTI, I was ready to puke when Wilbon and Kornheiser had Boeheim on today, and spent 5 minutes slobbering all over that douchebag.

[TUclutch]

Bullshit, the invitations are invitations. They could have decided there are teams more worthy and left Syracuse out. No one would have argued that Belmont was more worthy than Syracuse. On another note, although I like PTI, I was ready to puke when Wilbon and Kornheiser had Boeheim on today, and spent 5 minutes slobbering all over that douchebag.

I think your hate is a little more serious than it needs to be. They invite the teams they think most deserve it. I absolutely can see why they would be in over a midmajor. They're showing it now too. Like someone else said, sucks with how NCAA punishments work, because it mainly hurts the kids. Leaving them out wouldve hurt the kids more than the coach. Try a little less

[scoscox]

Well, I wouldn't say Syracuse definitely earned a bid based on their season. There were quite a few teams I thought that could've gotten the bid instead of them. If the committee did give them any sort of pass for Jim Boeheim being suspended I'd be disappointed. What's the point of a suspension if its consequences will be voided in the only way that matters (NCAA tournament consideration). We'll suspend him, but we won't count those games against their season. It was just ridiculous. Add to that the coach in question being Jim Boeheim and it only makes it worse.