NCAA suspends SMU hoops coach Larry Brown, school gets postseason ban

DALLAS (AP) — The NCAA banned the SMU men's basketball team from postseason play today and suspended veteran coach Larry Brown for nine games after concluding he lied to investigators, ignored academic fraud and fell far short of expectations in leading his staff when it came to compliance.

In a scathing report, the NCAA noted that Brown had previously coached at Kansas and UCLA yet made "choices against his better judgment when it came to compliance issues" at SMU, where he is preparing for his fourth season.

"These choices included not reporting possible violations in his program, initially lying to the enforcement staff during the investigation and providing no specific guidance to his staff on rules compliance," the NCAA said in punishing SMU for its 10th major infractions case over the years.

SMU did not immediately comment on the findings, which it can appeal.

The NCAA said Brown had acknowledged "his failed judgment" during a hearing on the case and that it found him "reflective and remorseful."

"But I realize, you know, in hindsight that was a terrible mistake on my part," Brown said, according to the NCAA report. "I wish I could have changed all that. But we had that interview with the NCAA, I don't know why I lied. You know, dealing with people that I really care about, and I used terrible judgment, and I tried to acknowledge that as quickly as I could, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I realize that."