NCAA issues report on MU hoops

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On January 13th of this year, Missouri admitted to multiple NCAA violations within its basketball program. The Tigers self-imposed a number of sanctions at that time, including a ban from post-season play of any kind after the 2015-16 season and a reduction of two scholarships.

Since then, the Tigers have waited. And waited. And waited.

But this morning, the wait is over. The NCAA released its report on the violations Tuesday morning. You can read the entire report here.

Here is the most relevant passage: "The panel accepted the university’s self-imposed penalties and added one year of probation, from Aug. 2, 2016, through Aug. 1, 2017. Penalties self-imposed by the school include a one-year postseason ban for the men’s basketball team, completed during the 2015-16 season, scholarship reductions, recruiting restrictions, disassociation of the two boosters, a vacation of men’s basketball wins and a fine."

Interim Chancellor and Director of Athletics Hank Foley issued this statement: "As responsible members of the SEC and the NCAA, we chose to self-report potential violations of bylaws and self-impose certain sanctions. Today's release of the Summary of Findings by the NCAA is a clear indication this was a wise decision by the University and allows us to put these issues behind us as we continue to rebuild a top-notch basketball program."

Kim Anderson also offered a statement: "Through cooperation between NCAA personnel, the University of Missouri and our Mizzou Athletics staff, we are now able to draw this process to a close. It has been my desire to move our program forward since learning of what had taken place. My staff and I are fully invested in our student-athletes and helping them achieve their goals on and off the court. Our program will continue to represent the University and the state of Missouri with honor and integrity."

Missouri first received a notice of the investigation from the NCAA way back in April of 2014. That was four days before Frank Haith left for Tulsa and before Kim Anderson was hired. Anderson said in January he was unaware of the investigation at the time he accepted the job, but that it would not have prevented him from accepting.

Since then, the allegations have hovered in the background as Missouri has endured its worst-two year stretch on the court in a half century. The Tigers took one of the lost scholarships last year and appear poised to forfeit the second this season with just 12 players on the roster right now. The NCAA allows 13 players on scholarship each year.

In late April, then Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades met with the media and said that he thought the report would have been issued "right about now." At the time, he was hopeful the process would be wrapped up in May. Turns out, he wasn't at Mizzou long enough to see the resolution.

Missouri has permanently disassociated itself from the one of the two boosters mentioned in the notice of allegations. The other was disassociated for two years. Former associate head coach Tim Fuller, who was a principal figure in the investigation, left after the 2014-15 season and Jakeenan Gant, a player involved in some of the alleged allegations, transferred after last season.

After some 28 months, Missouri basketball finally has closure as far as the NCAA investigation. The Tigers leave for a four-game exhibition tour of Italy on Friday in advance of Anderson's third season as head coach.