The University of Kansas on Thursday responded to NCAA allegations that it was guilty of recruiting violations in its basketball program, insisting it did nothing wrong.
In its official response to the NCAA, KU says the allegations are “unsupported by the evidence and the record.” It adds that “charges leveled against Coach (Bill) Self are not based on fact.”
The NCAA sent KU a formal notice of the allegations last September. The NCAA isn’t expected to wrap up its investigation until at least after the current basketball season and perhaps sometime in the summer or fall.
In its response, KU also addresses NCAA's allegations regarding the Jayhawks football program. Although the university says the allegations were self-reported, it notes they occurred during the tenure of the former head football coach – a reference to David Beatty, who has sued the university for severance money he says the university owes him.
The NCAA’s investigation is based on federal court testimony that two individuals connected to the Adidas shoe company gave money to the families and guardians of college prospects.
KU says the two individuals were acting on their own and not on behalf of KU when the families and guardians of college prospects were paid.
The names of the recruiting prospects were redacted from the public documents.
Greg Echlin is a freelance sports reporter for KCUR 89.3.
