NCAA may flunk top teams

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — For many years, all the NCAA could do was cringe when the graduation rates of Division I men's basketball players were publicized during the NCAA Tournament.

This year's Sweet 16 reflects the problem. The four top-seeded teams — Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and Kentucky — had a graduation rate of zero in the latest report, as did Pittsburgh.

But this year the NCAA is doing more than wringing its hands. As part of its aggressive campaign to improve academic achievement of athletes, the NCAA is forging ahead with a plan that would penalize those schools and teams with poor graduation rates.

As early as 2006, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, Kentucky and Pittsburgh could find themselves ineligible to play in the tournament if their graduation rates don't improve.

"The NCAA must establish a foundation of clear accountability for college sports," Myles Brand, the NCAA's new president, said in a speech earlier this month outlining his priorities.

Brand, the former president of Indiana University who gained notoriety for firing basketball coach Bob Knight, has made academic reform No. 1 on his agenda. Men's basketball, which has the lowest graduation rate of all sports with 32 percent, is the primary target.

"Under no circumstances can it be acceptable not to graduate any men's basketball player in five years, which unfortunately has recently occurred at 36 Division I schools," Brand said.

Brand's remedy is contained in a five-page letter recently sent to all Division I schools detailing a plan to establish incentives and disincentives tied to academic performance of athletes.

A team that did well might get additional scholarships and more money from the NCAA, among other possible rewards. Those that did not make the grade could be kept out of postseason tournaments, lose scholarships and have money cut off. This could start as early as 2006, according to the timeline contained in the letter.

The plan has its opponents, most notably Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun.

"I don't think Myles Brand knows anything about basketball, and I don't think he should be talking about basketball," Calhoun told The New York Times. "Maybe he should fire some school presidents. Maybe as Myles is sanctimonious about coaches and players, he should be the same about presidents. But he's not going to do that."

Brand, who stood up to pressure from fans and alumni when he fired Knight, has a diplomatic response to such criticism.