Last year this time, Baylor's basketball team was killer, exciting and had everyone was rooting for them. This year it looks like there will be no magical run in March. Baylor lost to OU in the Big 12 tourney, hours after learning Perry Jones would be deemed ineligible for having his mom receive improper benefits from an AAU coach. Baylor's second best player and likely lottery draft pick has played his last game in a Baylor uniform this season.
All investigations records say Jones had no knowledge of the 3 separate loans his mom received from the AAU coach while he was in high school. The money was used reportedly for rent or travel expenses to a football game in San Diego. All violations occurred in high school and loans were repaid by his mom in a timely manner. So what's the problem? Jones wasn't directly involved even though he received the benefits. He was in high school at the time. From the outside it looks like his mom borrowed money from a friend and eventually repaid most the money back. His punishment is he can't play the rest of this season, coincidentally during the most exciting time in college basketball.
Terrelle Pryor and his buddies, who directly and knowingly benefited from their infractions, were allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl because the NCAA claimed the bowl game is special, a "unique opportunity", and they shouldn't be punished for what they accomplished that season. How is the Sugar Bowl any more important and unique than the opportunity to play in college basketball in March? All athletes should be treated equally but they aren't. Pryor and OSU were a ranked team with a potential Heisman candidate. They bring in fans, money, ratings and all the glory. Jones and Baylor were likely to lose in the first weekend of the tourney. They walk in the shadows of the bigger schools in the Big 12 and NCAA clearly doesn't care to give them the same treatment. NCAA investigated Baylor for 3 months and ruled Jones ineligible right before the tourney. An easy way to screw a season.
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