Well, at least we now know it’s official: Arizona acknowledged Friday that it received the Notice of Allegations (NOA) from the NCAA.
“However, in order to protect the integrity of the ongoing enforcement process, the University is not releasing the NOA at this time,” the school said through a written statement.
On Thursday, Arizona coach Sean Miller declined to comment on the news UA was getting the NOA or on any investigation.
But it was just a matter of time UA wouldn’t get the NOA given there’s been an investigation into the UA men’s basketball program for more than two years. What Arizona doesn’t want to know – or find out – is that there are any Level 1 violations, which would mean sanctions against the program.
It all started when federal officials broke the news after investigating college basketball and what goes on behind the scenes. Shortly after the news broke in late September 2017 former UA assistant Book Richardson was arrested. He later plead guilty to taking $20,000 in bribes to help steer potential recruits to a specific agent/runner.
The NOA’s information would alert UA officials to what the NCAA found in its investigation, one that seemingly started after UA was one of a number of schools involved in alleged misconduct regarding NCAA rules. Miller is implicated given he is the school’s head coach and there have been published accounts through wiretaps and court documents.
A final decision on any penalty – if there is one – could come in the spring or early summer given the lengths of appeals in the process. Arizona has 90 days to respond to the NCAA findings. Then the NCAA has its time to respond.
The Arizona Daily Star reported today the Arizona Board of Regents will meet on Monday to discuss the NOA
“The Arizona Board of Regents will meet in executive session next week to discuss the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations issued to the University of Arizona,” a statement from the Arizona Board read. “The board recognizes that the issuance by the NCAA of a Notice of Allegations is another step in its comprehensive enforcement process. Maintaining the integrity of the process, while frustratingly slow, has been and remains essential and we look forward to an expeditious resolution.
“The board has confidence in President [Robert C.] Robbins and his commitment to the highest integrity in academic and athletic matters.”
