Georgia Tech punishment not necessarily a sign of what’s to come for Kansas

By Matt Tait     Sep 26, 2019
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On Thursday afternoon, three days after the University of Kansas received a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA, [the Georgia Tech men’s basketball program received a one-year postseason ban and four years probation][1] for its own recruiting improprieties.

So what can KU fans learn from the Georgia Tech punishment about the Jayhawks’ situation, which is still months from being known or wrapped up?

Not a lot, says Josephine Potuto, a University of Nebraska College of Law professor and former chair of the NCAA committee on infractions.

“The (Committee on Infractions) bases its decision on penalties based on NCAA bylaws that provide general parameters and on the facts and circumstances of each particular case,” Potuto told the Journal-World via email Thursday afternoon. “These vary a great deal case to case, making comparisons difficult. To the extent that the COI believes that cases are similar in scope, (with) individuals found to be involved, and the type, nature, and number of violations, the COI strives to provide consistency in penalties.”

As Potuto points out, the specifics of the Kansas and Georgia Tech cases differ quite a bit but are, at their core, similar. Both are rooted in impermissible benefits and involve head coaches, assistant coaches and third parties connected to the programs.

Georgia Tech’s punishment — some of which was self-reported — included the postseason ban, the probation, a reduction in scholarships and fines and came from [two Level 1 charges by the NCAA.][2]

As outlined in the NOA, Kansas is facing three Level 1 penalties along with a lack of institutional control tag and a coach’s responsibility charge.

Kansas has 90 days to respond to the NOA and the NCAA then has 60 days to answer that before a hearing is scheduled to reach a final decision.

Most experts agree that the earliest a conclusion can be reached would be late spring or early summer next year.

[1]: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/27707238/ga-tech-gets-probation-1-year-postseason-ban
[2]: https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/ncaa-finds-high-level-recruiting-violations-georgia-tech/bH8sHFDA76ORVP9czFgd3I/

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.