Malik Alvin’s assault charge is more than “just an incident” (see Page 1). It adds to the growing list of bad recruiting practices by Kevin Broadus, a man who promised a collection of stand-up athletes who would not only come together to win games, but to uphold the prestige of Binghamton University.

Even before Broadus was hired to coach the Binghamton University men’s basketball team in the spring of 2007, his controversial recruiting practices were known.

As an assistant at Georgetown, he pursued a player who had a 1.33 GPA in core classes. That caught the eye of The New York Times, which described his players as “ignominious” and “unaccredited.” Nevertheless, Broadus’ knowledge of the game, and his resume, which includes a Final Four appearance, put him at the Bearcats’ helm.

There was, however, a caveat: “Binghamton has never engaged in [those recruiting practices],” BU Athletics Director Joel Thirer told The Times on March 30, 2007. “If there’s a history of that, it certainly won’t be the case here. I can guarantee that. We just don’t want to win that badly.”

We’re not so sure.

Broadus arrived with promises of on-court prestige, but last summer, once again bloggers and journalists alike scratched their heads over his atypical choices. He brought in a player who was kicked off his high school basketball team and didn’t academically qualify for Syracuse University, another who was arrested for marijuana possession at Gonzaga University in Washington and yet another who was briefly suspended for academics at St. Joesph’s College.

Broadus had said that “these [were] grown men” who would “check their egos at the door,” and we took his word for it. Now, another member of this year’s recruiting class is in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

Alvin’s alleged crime not only hurts on the court, where the Bearcats lost their top two players from last season, but off, where the team has made international headlines the last six months because of Miladin Kovacevic.

Broadus had a chance at redemption when he brought in these transfers. He reassured us that he was bringing in a standout group of men who would learn that there was no “I” in team, and the University placed its trust in the coach to bring pride to the program.

It seems like the only thing Broadus can do these days is disappoint.