Self-imposed ban

As we wait for the rapidly approaching, there's no shortage of news from Wednesday. A Bill Self suspension, potential realignment involving Gonzaga, and more fun scrimmage results to parse!

Let's get to the news.

1. Kansas suspends Bill Self. Will it affect IARP decision?

The reigning champions won't have their coach to start the season. But Bill Self and the school could still face more penalties stemming from a 2017 FBI investigation into college basketball.

First, the news. Kansas announced several self-imposed penalties on Wednesday. They include:

• A four-game suspension for Self and assistant Kurtis Townsend, which means they'll return for the Battle 4 Atlantis opener vs. NC State.

• Self and Townsend will not attend off-campus recruiting-related activities for four months (already served over the summer).

• Reduction of four official visits during this academic year and in 2023-24.

• Reduction of three scholarships; to be distributed over the next three years.

• A six-week ban on recruiting communications, a six-week ban on unofficial visits and a thirteen-day reduction in the number of permissible recruiting days during the 2022-23 calendar year.

“Coach Townsend and I accept and support KU’s decision to self-impose these sanctions,” Self said in the release. “We are in good hands with Coach Roberts, and I am confident that he will do a great job on the bench leading our team. I am proud of the way our guys have handled this situation, and I look forward to returning to the bench for our game against NC State.” 

But will all of this ease any impending penalties from the Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP)? The IARP, which is expected to announce its ruling today for Louisville's role in the same FBI investigation (it issued its Memphis ruling in Sept., leaving KU, Arizona and LSU still waiting), could still hand out a longer suspension for Self. Anything it decides cannot be appealed by the school.

This approach is a course reversal for Kansas, which had been largely defiant toward the NCAA throughout the investigation. The NCAA accused Kansas of using Adidas to gain an illegal advantage in recruiting, stating that Self and Townsend encouraged Adidas employees, including those who were charged in the FBI case, to steer top recruits to Kansas.

Since the investigation began, Kansas has reached two Final Fours and won the 2022 NCAA Tournament. It also signed Self to a new five-year contract in April 2021 that's essentially a lifetime deal because he gets one additional year after the conclusion of each season. It also states he cannot be fired for cause. So it would seem the school is prepared to move forward.

"We are hopeful these difficult self-imposed sanctions will assist in bringing the case to a conclusion," Kansas athletic director Travis Goff said.

2. Gonzaga reportedly in talks with Big 12

Oh, how nice it would be to never hear "What if Gonzaga played power conference teams every game?" again. Well, ESPN reported that the Big 12 is having conversations with the program to potentially join the conference, which already adds BYU, Houston, Cincinnati and UCF next season.

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yorkmack met with Gonzaga AD Chris Standiford last week as part of the league's "open for business" approach to expand. (The Pac-12 also is reportedly courting the Zags, who've been linked to the Big East for a few years.)

Here's the roadblock: Gonzaga doesn't have a football program, but this would cover all other sports. Per ESPN, the move is "not a financial game-changer" but would be done to cement the Big 12 as the sport's premier basketball conference.

Could you imagine a conference featuring Kansas, Baylor and Gonzaga? They all made the championship game in the last two seasons and Kansas and Baylor won championships. Add Houston, which is part of the four teams joining in 2023-24, and that's five of the game top six programs since 2018. Who needs Texas and Oklahoma when you can create a basketball super conference? Count me all the way in on the Zags to Big 12 country.

It's a positive move for Gonzaga. They get more money from the Big 12 media deals (how the money is distributed without football included isn't clear yet) and more eyes from the college basketball fans. And it would end nonsense takes like this. (Gonzaga is 28-10 vs. Big 12 teams.)

3. Texas Tech won't have Aimaq most of the season

When Fardaws Aimaq broke his foot in mid-September, Texas Tech was initially optimistic he would be ready by the start of conference play. That's no longer the case.

In his stead, Daniel Batcho and Kevin Obanor will split minutes at the 5, but all projections for the Red Raiders should be adjusted if Aimaq misses up to 20 games.

Aimaq led the country in rebounding in 2020-21 (15 rpg) and finished only behind Oscar Tshiebwe with 13.9 rpg last season. Once he returns, it'll be interesting to see how long it takes him to regain his prior form — if he does at all this season. Some injuries like this could alter a player's performance on the court once they return even if he's "healthy."

4. The mid-major players to watch

I love mid-major basketball. I wrote about the Top 25 mid-major players to watch for The Almanac — still available for $19.99; makes for perfect weekend reading — which means this section is the summation of my love for the sport. OK, that's a bit much, but you get the point. There's a sampling of players below. If you want the entire group (also included: the Top 25 freshmen, Top 25 breakout players, and a list of the Top 100 players in the sport), you'll have the get The Almanac.

Also, a programming note: The Field of 68 mid-major show, hosted by yours truly, starts soon. We'll have a weekly Top 25 poll from the most knowledgeable mid-major minds around, discuss headlines and have weekly interviews! Detroit Mercy's Antoine Davis and South Dakota State's Zeke Mayo join me for segments on the first few shows. So let's open this with Davis.

Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy

Davis has done nearly everything in college hoops besides play in the NCAA Tournament. He's averaged 23 or more points in four seasons at Detroit Mercy, leads the program in virtually every offensive category and will soon etch his name as a top-two scorer in the sport's history. He needs around 900 points to take the scoring crown away from Pistol Pete Maravich, but only 500 points to pass Portland State's Freeman Williams for second place. Almanac ranking: 4.

Tosan Evbuomwan, Princeton

Evbuomwan is one of the game's more versatile forwards. He's the main-decision maker for Princeton's offense, although he's a traditional "frontcourt" player who hasn't discovered the perimeter shooting portion of his game. He won 2021-22 Ivy league player of the year after posting 16.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists in Princeton's 23-win season. Almanac ranking: 8

Jake Stephens, Chattanooga

Stephens is the lone transfer who notched a top-five ranking in the Almanac's mid-major list. He stayed intra-conference, following Dan Earl from VMI to Chattanooga. The 6-foot-11 center posted 19.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and shot 49.6 percent from deep while attempting over five triples per contest. Almanac ranking: 5

Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona

An All-MAAC First Team selection a year ago (13 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.9 bpg), the forward returns to lead the league’s best team back to the Promised Land. Almanac ranking: 23.

Where are Jelly Walker, Max Abmas, Tucker DeVries and the rest? It's Almanac time.

5. News and notes from Wednesday scrimmages

We're starting to wrap up the games that won't count in the win-loss column, but they still give fans and coaches one final look at their squad before the games matter.

• Gonzaga took down Warner Pacific, 101-70. The Zags shook off their loss to Tennessee, led by Drew Timme's 21 points and Malachi Smith's 16 points on 7-11 shooting. Though surprisingly, the Zags shot just 9-31 from deep, which is interesting considering the amount of shooting talent on the roster.

• New Mexico State played without Xavier Pinson and Kim Aiken Jr while they await the NCAA's ruling on their eligibility as multi-time transfers, but the Aggies showed promise under new coach Greg Heiar. JUCO transfer Deshawndre Washington dropped 21 points and DaJuan Gordon added 14 in a rout over Western New Mexico.

• Bradley lost Rienk Mast to injury last week, but looked terrific in the 79-64 scrimmage win over Illinois-Wesleyen. The most impressive performance came from former JUCO player of the year Malevy Leons, who can stretch the floor, block shots and throw down incredible dunks. He's a legitimate breakout star in the Mo Valley this season.

Links as you Google why they ever implemented Daylight Savings Time in the first place.

• Georgia guard Terry Roberts is "taking some personal time" away from the team.

• Middle Tennessee guard Jalen Jordan is done for the year due to a torn ACL.

• Richmond's 2023 class took a hit when Matt Reed, a 3-star big, said he'll de-commit.

• How do the KenPom ratings fare vs. the AP poll? A breakdown.

• "On shit. This is serious." Inside Jose Perez's rollercoaster week that took him from Manhattan to West Virginia.

• Stetson added 2023 power forward Finley Sheridan.

THE FIELD OF 68 AFTER DARK

What to make of Kansas?

The Field of 68 AFTER DARK crew tries to analyze Bill Self's suspension and what i

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