BIG 12 CONFERENCE Baylor gets rest of the bad news

The Bears got another year of probation and fewer scholarships.
WACO, Texas (AP) -- Facing more bad news and new sanctions, Baylor coach Scott Drew smiled optimistically -- just as he did six months ago when he arrived on a campus swamped by scandal in the men's basketball program.
Drew faces another year of probation, new scholarship reductions and reduced contacts with recruits during the next two years because of NCAA violations committed by his predecessor, Dave Bliss.
"I'm more encouraged than when I first got here," Drew said Thursday. "The community and this school have been so supportive of this team it just makes you want to work harder."
School president Robert Sloan announced the new sanctions Thursday as he released a summary of the school's internal investigation that found major NCAA violations Bliss committed. The school will send its report to the NCAA.
In the report
Among the findings: Bliss improperly paid up to $40,000 in tuition for two players, the coaching staff didn't report failed drug tests by athletes and Bliss lied to investigators in trying to cover up his misdeeds.
Other violations included Bliss and his staff arranging meals, transportation, lodging and clothing for athletes or prospective athletes. Coaches also paid $336 in tuition at a junior college for a prospective player.
The school began its investigation last summer when player Patrick Dennehy was killed and former teammate Carlton Dotson was charged with his murder.
"The university is embarrassed," said Sloan, the leader of the world's largest Baptist organization and the Big 12's only private school. "Faith, integrity and honesty matter."
Drew preferred to think about how Baylor has closed a chapter in the sordid affair. Baylor has finished its investigation.
"They're done with it. I'm encouraged and ready to move on," he said. "We knew there would be more sanctions."
Silver lining
Even the reduction of scholarships from 13 to nine next season didn't seem to cause him much concern.
Baylor (8-18) plays just seven scholarship athletes this season, so Drew still gets to add two next year. And with the departure of his seniors, he'll get to sign four new players to his roster.
Compared with NCAA rules that would have allowed him to sign up to five new players next year, Drew really loses just one scholarship in the short term. And by 2005-2006, he'll be just one shy of the full allotment.
"Seven scholarship players. Next year we go to nine, so I look at it as we're gaining," he said. "It's the quality of guys you bring in. If you have nine quality guys, that's all you need."