As the University of Hawaii awaits a formal Notice of Allegations in the NCAA’s investigation of its men’s basketball program, one of its biggest concerns is having violations compounded by attempts at obfuscation.

People interviewed by the NCAA, or briefed on the subject, say even though some of the infractions that could be alleged were not initially deemed severe, they could rise to Level I (severe breach of conduct), the highest tier, if the NCAA cites efforts to mislead or stonewall investigators.

"Failure to cooperate in an NCAA enforcement investigation" is an example of a Level I violation, according to the NCAA’s website.

UH officials have told people they fear allegations of multiple Level I and II violations.

"There are credibility issues, let’s put it that way," said a figure briefed on the process who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Added a member of the 2013-14 team who said he was interviewed by the NCAA and claimed to have talked to others who had met with investigators: "So, I’m sure they got (individuals) in some lies — either that, or ‘I don’t remember,’ and then you’ve got four or five guys who do remember. Or, ‘Well I’m not going to answer that,’ which would be not cooperating. So, I could see all those things really happening."

The official Notice of Allegations is expected this month. Athletic director Ben Jay has declined to "comment on the situation at this time," citing NCAA bylaws.

Head coach Gib Arnold and assistant Brandyn Akana were removed Oct. 28 "without cause" according to UH.

All-Big West forward Isaac Fotu left the team shortly afterward, following a suspension by UH for unspecified reasons. He has turned professional, playing in Spain.

Meanwhile, so-called "inconsistencies" in testimony have been cited by people at UH as a reason that an investigation that began with an inquiry into an altered document in the spring widened and ran through mid-October.

As of late Monday an official Notice of Allegations had not been received by UH, an official said. (Inquiries Tuesday went unanswered.)

People who said they were interviewed by the NCAA said some questioning centered on the number of allowable hours of practice time, on-campus evaluations, an iPad, recruiting, the role of the director of operations … "and so on and so forth."

NCAA Committee on Infractions chairman Greg Sankey, speaking in general terms and not to the UH case, has told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that one of the worst things a school or its representatives can do, "… is not being truthful, not being responsive. Those are things I have advised against over time."

In an NCAA inquiry, Sankey said, "there is an expectation that this is a cooperative effort to get to the bottom — or truth — of the matter."