Memphis avoids sanctions... but others?

No bans for Tigers or Penny Hardaway, though unclear if it sets precedent for Arizona, Kansas, Louisville and LSU. Plus, Irish add a shooter, Xavier suspends a starter and more.

September 28, 2022

There’s something to be said for taking your time with really important decisions. You want to get things right when it comes to buying a new car, dating, your college of choice, or whether you’re going to hammer a college hoops program for a questionable decision.

Lots to cover today, including news about Memphis, Xavier, Dariq Whitehead, Notre Dame’s new commit, and much more. Let’s get to it.

1. Memphis breathes easy after IARP ruling

The waiting is the hardest part.

Memphis, nearly three years after the Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP) began its investigation, found that out on Tuesday. The IARP’s verdict into the Tigers’ NCAA rule violations around the recruitment of James Wiseman amount to a $5,000 fine, probation until Sept. 26, 2025, plus vacating the two wins and all Wiseman-related stats from 2019.

The IARP “concluded that Memphis failed to monitor the education and activities of the head coach by not providing sufficient education to him regarding permissible activities for boosters and failing to ask the head coach about any financial contributions he had made to prospective student-athletes and their families in the Memphis community or any other relationships he may have developed with the high school or AAU players he had coached.

“The hearing panel also concluded that the institution's leadership allowed [Wiseman] to participate in a November 5, 2019, basketball contest without informing the head coach until after the contest that [Wiseman] had been determined to be ineligible to play.”

Given that some thought the punishment could involve a postseason ban or a serious penalty for coach Penny Hardaway, this was an incredibly positive ruling for Memphis. Officials acknowledged as much with direct, no-snark statements from the school and Hardaway, a rarity from any program angry about an outcome.

Was it worth it to play Wiseman and go through this whole process? Probably not. But college is the place where you learn decisions can affect your future, sometimes in ways you hadn’t considered. Now Memphis, with the help of good lawyers, can focus on what’s next.

Oklahoma State, on the other hand, is not so happy. Rightfully so given the recent history of NCAA penalties. The whole process was a mess, which is why the NCAA is doing away with the IARP.

That leaves four schools — Louisville, Arizona, Kansas and LSU — who still await IARP rulings. The Cards and Cats have completed their hearings, which makes it likely their rulings will be issued next, but it’s hard to say when that will be.

Cautiously optimistic fans of those teams might be in luck if the Memphis ruling sets any precedent. The NCAA typically combined multiple violations into a single punishment, but the IARP weighed each Memphis infraction on its own. Hugh Fraser, who oversaw the case, said their intention was to not impact current student-athletes, but those with “greater culpability.”

2. Xavier suspends Zach Freemantle

The first day of practice wasn’t a happy day for everyone. Xavier senior forward Sean Freemantle is suspended indefinitely from team activities, per the Cincinnati Enquirer. Coach Sean Miller did not provide any further details.

Freemantle started 22 games for the Musketeers last season, averaging 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds.

He entered this season as an expected starter given his experience (83 career games) and talent. For Xavier to compete for a top-four spot in the Big East, they’ll need Freemantle back and focused. They open their season on Nov. 7.

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3. News you might’ve missed

The other great thing about practices starting? That dearth of news is gone.

4. Notre Dame adds a skilled shooter (go figure)

Mike Brey has a type. And it’s guys who can make shots.

Parker Friedrichsen is a 6-3 guard who’s one of the best shooters in the class of 2023, making him a no-brainer for Notre Dame. The Irish have finished as a top 50 team in 3-point percentage in six of the last 10 seasons, including 14th overall in 2021-22.

Friedrichsen is a borderline Top 100 recruit and the third get in 2023 for the Irish. 247 assesses him as a guy who can shoot off the catch or off the dribble and is effective in half-court sets. Like I said, sounds like a Brey guy.

Also from Tuesday:

5. Not-so-obvious storylines

The IARP moves at its own pace, so none of those rulings were in The Almanac’s Top 25 storylines of the year. Tough break. So what did we highlight? Some of it’s obvious (pressure on Kentucky, new coaches at Duke and ‘Nova, Gonzaga’s quest for respect), but there are few that might not be top of mind. Among them:

  • Texas Takeover: With Baylor, Houston and Texas, the state could place two teams in the Final Four for the second time ever. That’s right: Texas, Basketball State.

  • Vegas, baby: Sin City will host the NCAA Tournament’s West Regional. We know where The Field of 68 is headed.

  • The Key(ontae) question: One-time SEC Preseason POY Keyontae Johnson hasn’t played since collapsing during a Dec. 2020 game. What’s ahead of him at K-State?

  • Lucky or good: Providence and Wisconsin defied the odds last season with conference titles despite analytics throwing shade. What about now?

Want to read the rest? The Almanac can be yours for just $20. Buy it here and get it delivered right to your inbox.

Links as you wait for pitchers to throw strikes to Aaron Judge.

A big ol’ monster

The Big 12 has the last two national champions, has placed a team in the last three Final Fours and has been atop the KenPom.com rankings seven of the last nine seasons.

So. When Texas and Oklahoma head to the SEC and Houston, Cincinnati, UCF and BYU replace them, will the Big 12 remain the country’s best conference? Normally, that’s a rhetorical question, but do us a favor and watch the DTF crew argue about it.

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