Binghamton: Can't State Satellite Campus?

[RootforRoo44]

Attention cuts both ways in Binghamton in first trip to dance

Binghamton will make its NCAA men's basketball tournament debut today against Duke, extending a season that has delivered unprecedented success and unwanted controversy. The university, which began in Division III and gained full Division I status in 2001, shared the regular-season America East title and won the league tournament for the first time. But the manner by which these goals were reached was questioned critically in a New York Times article in late February. In a league with teams traditionally built around four-year players, the Bearcats won with a roster crowded with transfers brought in by second-year coach Kevin Broadus. Several of the newcomers arrived after academic or legal problems at their previous schools. VIDEO: What to expect in the madness of March The Times quoted by name an adjunct lecturer and former athletic department employees who said the school was sacrificing its strong academic reputation to accommodate the new players. Athletics director Joel Thirer and school President Lois B. DeFleur denied that, but the faculty has taken notice. FIND MORE STORIES IN: New York Times | Duke | Gonzaga | Serbia | Bearcats | Belgrade | Division III | Binghamton | America East | Asked | Dance | Miladin Kovacevic | Kevin Broadus | Tanjug | Dwayne Jackson "(The large number of transfers) is something different from what we're used to, so we are very much keeping an eye on things," geology professor Richard Naslund, chair of the faculty senate, told USA TODAY. "So far things have worked out, but this is not a milquetoast faculty. We're pretty proactive in not letting the athletic department get away with anything." Off-court problems also have arisen. Transfer Malik Alvin was suspended for three games after being charged with theft and assault. (The assault charge was later dropped.) Theo Davis, charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana while at Gonzaga, quit over playing time. Broadus suspended senior Dwayne Jackson, whom he did not recruit, for an unspecified violation. These issues follow an incident last May in which player Miladin Kovacevic was charged in connection with a fight that left a fellow student in a coma. He then fled to his native Serbia. Kovacevic was not recruited by Broadus, and his scholarship had been withdrawn at the time of the incident. "Everyone on campus feels sick about that, but that was an isolated incident," Naslund said. "I don't know how you can blame an entire program for one individual." Kovacevic's legal proceedings in Serbia have been put on hold, the state Tanjug news agency reported Monday. It said a court in Belgrade failed to persuade witnesses in the USA to testify by video link. VIDEO: These stars could carry the little guys Asked Wednesday whether his team is playing under a cloud, Broadus said, "Our players, and when you say cloud, have looked at this stuff that's gone on around us peripherally, and we've been like racehorses. We put blinders on." America East Commissioner Patrick Nero believes Binghamton has been judged unfairly. In the most recent NCAA figures, it had the highest academic progress rate in America East for men's basketball at 960 (the national average is 928). Those numbers are for 2003-07 and don't include current players. The transfer issue has been raised with league presidents. "When there is coaching turnover you see transfers, and there are cycles when coaches will rely on transfers more than usual," Nero says. "I don't think it's the long-term direction of this conference. But it's something we will monitor." ***

[Quickzips]

I'll give Binghamton a little more credit than Can't. Can't would NEVER suspend a troublemaker for 3 games.

[RootforRoo44]

I'll give Binghamton a little more credit than Can't. Can't would NEVER suspend a troublemaker for 3 games.

i'll give you that, though i think they are equal in number of troublemakers at least.

[GoZips88]

I'll give Binghamton a little more credit than Can't. Can't would NEVER suspend a troublemaker for 3 games.

Can't MIGHT consider it if their next three games were against Hartford, Albany, & Stony Brook (America East Conference).