Even Binghamton's tryouts against the rules
Posted: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 9:40 AM
Filed Under:
Mid-majors
Just when Binghamton’s hoops program tries to dig its way out of rock bottom, it finds another crevasse and falls on its face. Again.
Fresh off the recent dismissal of six players for various infractions, the school announced Tuesday it would try to bolster the depleted hoops roster by holding open tryouts. Any able-bodied student with a physical could come on down (seven scholarships are available!) and potentially play for a program coming off its first-ever NCAA tournament berth.
Or not.
Binghamton canceled Tuesday’s tryout because it could have been against NCAA rules.
Ouch.
The problem was the number of students interested in trying out. Per NCAA rules, teams can’t hold their first practice until Oct. 16, but they can have skill sessions. In other words, no five-on-five. If more than nine students would’ve showed up, that would’ve been a no-no in the eyes of Binghamton compliance director Dave Eagan.
Except it’s not even that clear. From the Press & Sun-Bulletin,
America East Conference associate commissioner for compliance Brian Barrio said that would be a reasonable interpretation of the rules.
But the bylaw clause addressing skill instruction is vague, Barrio said, and does not place specific limitations on how many players may attend a skill session once the school's academic year has started.
"It's not very well-defined," Barrio said. "The sticking point is there has to be instruction going on."
Ah! So don’t advertise the tryout. Just let it be known that coach Kevin Broadus is “looking” for able bodied men (apparently I think he’s an Army recruiter as well) and perhaps they’ll be on the team.
In any case, a tryout has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. on Oct. 17. By then, everything with the NCAA will A-OK.
(H/T: Pete Thamel, now the Times’ national hoops/Binghamton reporter.)
