NCAA Places Oklahoma Basketball On Three Years Probation

The NCAA has placed the Oklahoma men's basketball program on three years of probation and fined it $15,000 for lying to investigators and failing to report that a player had received an impermissible extra benefit. 

The infractions committee also vacated all 13 wins from OU's 2009-10 season, took away a scholarship and "limited recruiting efforts."

The penalties were more severe than they would have been ordinarily because of OU's classification as a "repeat offender." The violations in question occurred while the Sooners were still on probation for violations involving illegal recruiting phone calls by former head coach Kelvin Sampson and football players being paid for work they weren't doing at a car dealership.

Crimson and Cream Machine, for one, is glad the whole ordeal finally has some closure to it so the program can move on.

It would appear all the drama that Oronde Taliaferro, Tiny Gallon, and Jeff Capel caused has finally come to an end with the NCAA's decision today to place the OU men's basketball program on three years probation.  Additionally, the university will have to pay a $15,000 fine, lose one scholarship, some limits on recruiting, and all 13 wins from the 2009-10 season have been vacated. 

Most of the penalties were suggested by OU, so much of this does not come as a surprise.  Finally, this program can move on from this and get back to doing things the right way and winning basketball games.  I have no doubt Coach Kruger is the right man to do just that.

New head coach Lon Kruger and the Sooners begin their 2011-2012 campaign Friday night at home against Idaho State.