UConn men's basketball program under NCAA investigation

The University of Connecticut men's basketball program is under NCAA investigation.

The school confirmed Thursday that the NCAA has notified UConn of an inquiry into its men's basketball program.

"We are working closely with the NCAA enforcement division," UConn said in a statement to Hearst Connecticut Media. "We will appropriately address and respond to this inquiry and continue cooperating fully with the NCAA as this process moves forward. Until that time, we will have no further comment."

The full nature of the inquiry is uncertain but involves areas of recruiting, Jeff Jacobs of Hearst reports citing two sources close the situation.

Jacobs also reported that the investigation is not related to the ongoing FBI probe into bribery at college basketball programs around the country.

The FBI and Justice Department announced in late September that 10 people, including four assistant coaches, had been arrested on bribery and corruption charges. Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich were fired at Louisville.

Head coach Kevin Ollie led UConn to a national title in 2014 but the program is struggling to stay above .500 this season.

UConn is 11-9 (4-3 in the American Athletic Conference) this season, and the program suffered its first losing season in three decades at the conclusion of the 2016-17 campaign.

Ollie's contract was extended before the start of last season.

Jacobs notes that Ollie's contract includes a clause that can void it based on 'just cause."

"The phrase 'just cause' shall include, in addition to the definition contained in the Collective Bargaining Agreement: 1.) a violation by the Coach of any law, rule, regulation, policy, bylaw, or official interpretation of the University, the Conference or the NCAA; 2.) a violation by a member of the basketball coaching staff, or any other person under the coach's supervision and direction, including student-athletes in the basketball program that the coach knew as a violation, and takes no steps to address, correct and report the violation within a reasonable period of time which under no circumstance shall be longer than 10 business days."

UConn was penalized by the NCAA in 2012 for recruiting violations.

Former head coach Jim Calhoun will be suspended for the first three Big East games of the 2011-12 season after the NCAA found him guilty of "failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance and failing to monitor the program" in areas of phone calls, text messages and inducements provided by a booster.

UConn also had scholarship reductions for three academic years, recruiting restrictions, permanent disassociation of a booster and three years' probation as a result of the 2012 penalties.

Contact Brent Axe: Email | Twitter

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report

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