File
A difference of one day put Binghamton University's men's basketball program back in the headlines.

The Bearcats' men's basketball head coach Kevin Broadus violated NCAA recruiting rules last Tuesday when he spoke with two potential recruits a day after the contact period deadline for recruitment had passed.

According to the NCAA Division I men's basketball recruiting calendar, Monday, Oct. 5, marked the end of the contact period until it begins again in March. Broadus and assistant coach Marc Hsu had face-to-face contact with two students at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Fitchburg, Mass., that Tuesday, the first day of the evaluation period, during which coaches are allowed to speak to potential recruits via telephone or written contact, but not in person.

According to the NCAA Division I men's basketball off-campus recruiting guide, "in-person contact with a prospect shall not be made on or off the member institution's campus at the site of practice or competition or for any athletics event in which the prospect participates outside the permissible contact periods."

In a report by Jeff Goodman from FOX Sports, Broadus originally denied speaking with point guards Michael Glenn of Rochester, N.Y. and Antoine Myers of Baltimore, Md. on Tuesday, yet both players confirmed that he spoke with them about joining BU's program.

Later in the week BU announced it was self-reporting an NCAA violation.

"On Friday, Coach Broadus brought a potential NCAA infraction to my attention," James Norris, senior associate athletic director, said. "The coach reported contact with prospective student-athletes that was then determined to constitute a level-one secondary violation of NCAA regulations. A self-report of the violation was immediately submitted to the NCAA."

In the wake of the violation, Norris reported that corrective actions were placed on Broadus and his staff. All off-campus recruitment activities involving the men's basketball program have been temporarily suspended, and those on recruiting trips were requested to return home immediately.

After the dismissals of six players within the last two weeks, the program is left with seven eligible scholarship players and a leading returning scorer who averaged less than 5 points.

"Coach Broadus will not be allowed to conduct any off-campus recruiting trips until November," said BU spokeswoman Gail Glover. "All further recruiting trips by the men's basketball program will need prior approval from the athletic department's compliance office before departing from campus."

Notre Dame Prep coach Ryan Hurd told The Press & Sun-Bulletin that Broadus used the option of self-reporting in the appropriate manner.

"He's already acknowledged the mistake and it's self reported," Hurd said. "The whole practice of self-reporting is for situations just like this."

The news of Broadus's violation came only two weeks after Binghamton University dismissed six players from the team, including leading scorers from last year's America East Conference championship team roster.

D.J. Rivera, Malik Alvin, Corey Chandler, Paul Crosby and David Fine were released from the team on Sept. 25, just two days after Emanuel "Tiki" Mayben pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing and selling cocaine, and one day after he was permanently dismissed from the team. Broadus said that other players were dismissed because of commitment issues.

During a press conference on Sept. 30, BU President Lois DeFleur announced that athletic director Joel Thirer was resigning, effective immediately, and Norris was appointed as interim athletic director. DeFleur also requested that Broadus, the men's basketball coach, present her with a "recruitment and supervision plan" for the basketball team.

The men's basketball team announced open tryouts to be held Oct. 6 and 7, but according to Glover, the initial dates were scheduled in error.

"As soon as it was determined that the tryouts did not fall within the time frame prescribed by the NCAA, we immediately changed them to informational sessions," Glover said.

During the informational sessions interested students were informed about the necessary physical examination forms, Glover said.

According to Glover, the tryouts will take place later this month in compliance with conference regulations, and the dates will be publicly announced shortly.