UH to appeal some of NCAA sanctions against Rainbows

The University of Hawaii is expected to announce today that it is appealing some NCAA sanctions against its men’s basketball team.

Under NCAA rules, today is the 15-day deadline by which the school must provide notice of intent if it plans to appeal to the Infractions Appeals Committee.

A UH spokesman confirmed an announcement is expected today but declined to elaborate. Athletic director David Matlin has refused comment except to say school officials have been “doing our due diligence prior to making a decision.”

The NCAA’s imposition of a postseason ban for the 2016-17 season was the most severe of nine penalties announced last month by the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions.

Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman and others have described the postseason ban as “harsh” and several officials are said to have seconded coach Eran Ganot’s recommendation for an appeal.

Apart from being restricted from postseason play, a postseason ban would remove the standard requirement that players sit out a year if transferring to another school for seniors-to-be. That would be an option for the presumptive senior class of Aaron Valdes, Stefan Jankovic, Stefan Jovanovic and Mike Thomas.

The five-member IAC is regarded by the NCAA as “the final step in the infractions process” and may overturn or modify a COI ruling.

In order to reverse a penalty meted out by the COI, NCAA rules say, UH would have to, through an in-person appearance or in writing, demonstrate that “the ruling by the committee on infractions was clearly contrary to the evidence; the individual or school did not actually break NCAA rules; there was a procedural error that caused the Committee on Infractions to find a violation of NCAA rules; or the penalty was excessive.”

If UH chooses to appeal it will have 30 days in which to state its case and submit relevant documents. The IAC would have another 30 days to respond.