KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The University of Kansas fired back Thursday in a statement to a response issued earlier this week from the NCAA calling alleged violations in the men’s basketball program “egregious and severe.”
In September 2019, NCAA enforcement staff notified the university of a notice of violations found in the school’s athletic programs.
In January, the NCAA amended its allegations, giving the university until March 5 to respond to the allegations.
In March, the university replied to those allegations, saying, “there are unprecedented and novel theories put forward” in the NCAA Amended Notice of Allegations that “would dramatically alter the collegiate sports landscape in ways not contemplated by the Membership.”
On Tuesday, the NCAA replied to KU’s reply, reiterating its position about the seriousness of the alleged violations.
“This case involves two distinct matters that reveal an institution with significant violations in its flagship programs – football and men’s basketball,” NCAA enforcement staff wrote in Tuesday’s release. “While the football allegations involve alleged Level II and II violations, which are series alleged violations, there can be no doubt the men’s basketball allegations are egregious, severe and are of the kind that significantly undermine and threaten the NCAA collegiate model.”
On Thursday, the university fired back.
“The NCAA enforcement staff’s reply does not in any way change the University of Kansas’ position that the allegations brought against our men’s basketball program are simply baseless and littered with false representations,” the university said in a statement, while saying that Chancellor Doug Girod, Athletic Director Jeff Long continued to fully support men’s basketball head coach Bill Self and his staff.
The university posted its full response on its website.
