APR Issues Keep UConn Out Of Postseason

Jim Calhoun's most recent national championship last year becomes even more meaningful now that his Huskies will be precluded from postseason play due to subpar academic efforts.  (Photo courtesy of ESPN)


The Big East just got even harder to figure out.


Already a 15-team league now that West Virginia is on their way to the Big 12, the conference that has sent a total of 20 teams to the NCAA Tournament over the last two seasons is essentially dealing with one less after the University of Connecticut's appeal to participate in postseason play despite lackluster academic results was denied by the governing body of college athletics just a few hours ago.


The denial blocks the Huskies, who won their third national championship just twelve months ago, from making the field for the 2013 NCAA Tournament.  In addition, UConn is also barred from competing in next year's Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden.  UConn is the first major program to fall short of the NCAA's new requirements for APR, (academic performance rate) averaging 901 over the last two years when the school needed a mean of 930 to remain eligible for postseason basketball.  The university and head coach Jim Calhoun had hoped their much-improved 2011-12 APR scores would factor into the decision, but the academic results evaluated were those between 2009 and 2011.


It is unclear just how much this decision will affect the program that rose from mediocrity to become a national powerhouse.  Just a year removed from what will go down as his greatest triumph, Jim Calhoun may now be even closer to his much-suspected retirement.  The Hall of Fame coach fought through adversity and medical problems this past season, first overcoming a three-game suspension midway through the year before having to leave the team after being diagnosed with spinal stenosis in February only to come back for the Huskies' final four contests in March.  Age may also be a concern, as the coach turns 70 in May.  Upon hearing of the NCAA's verdict, Calhoun admitted he and his staff made mistakes in the past, but also made clear that the program has atoned for them.  "While we as a university and coaching staff clearly should have done a better job academically with our men's basketball student-athletes in the past, the changes we have implemented have already made a significant impact and have helped us achieve the success we expect in the classroom," Calhoun said. "We will continue to strive to maintain that success as we move forward."


In addition to Calhoun perhaps moving closer to riding off into the sunset, junior forward Alex Oriakhi announced his intention to transfer last week.  Oriakhi is now considering schools the likes of Kentucky and North Carolina among others, while sophomore guard Jeremy Lamb and freshman center Andre Drummond; both of whom are projected to be top ten selections in this June's NBA draft, could very well declare since their professional stock has now risen significantly.  Oriakhi will be able to play immediately due to this ruling, escaping the traditional year that most transfers have to sit out when switching from one team to another.