Jim Calhoun, UConn Face New Accusations About NCAA Violations

You’re probably already aware that Jim Calhoun and UConn got in hot water with the NCAA earlier this year. One of the stumbling blocks for the Association was apparently the unwillingness of former Connecticut player Nate Miles to talk to investigators. Things have changed.

At one point in high school, he said, he got $250 every three days from an N.B.A. agent that he said a former Connecticut assistant coach introduced him to. He said he received improper help on at least two of the standardized tests he took to qualify academically to play in college, but for all that he never played a game for Connecticut, or any other Division 1 university.

Caveats: Miles is a former UConn player for a reason, he’s now asking for money for any further interviews and he’s either lying now or he was lying during earlier statements that he didn’t do anything wrong. UConn and Calhoun best hope Miles is lying now, or at least that the NCAA doesn’t believe him.

When read a series of Calhoun’s statements to the N.C.A.A., including whether Calhoun and the Connecticut assistant Tom Moore warned Miles not to take gifts from Nochimson, Miles responded “lie” after each of them. That included whether Calhoun called Miles in March 2007 to caution Miles about Nochimson [an NBA agent who allegedly paid him]. “Lie,” Miles said.

The NCAA seems inclined to at least look into what Miles says now. Calhoun must be thrilled to hear that.