INDIANAPOLIS --- Memphis has been stripped by the NCAA of every victory in its 38-win season under coach John Calipari that ended in the national title game last year. The reason: an ineligible player believed to be Derrick Rose.
Thursday's announcement came 16 months after the Tigers lost to Kansas in the championship game after the 2007-08 season. Memphis president Shirley Raines said the school would appeal the ruling.
It is the second time both Memphis and Calipari had to vacate Final Four seasons. The Tigers were stripped of their 1985 appearance and Calipari's Massachusetts team lost its 1996 berth.
Calipari is now the basketball coach at Kentucky, where officials have voiced support for him despite the Memphis scandal.
Asked about the possibility of a vacated season, Calipari said: "I would be disappointed if that's what they chose to do."
Memphis finished 38-2 in 2007-08, setting the NCAA record for wins in a season.
In its report, the NCAA did not identify the ineligible player by name, though earlier descriptions of him lead to the conclusion it could be only Rose.
The player was accused of having another person take his SAT exam so he would be eligible as a freshman. Memphis argued it did not have enough information to substantiate the allegations in November 2007 and cleared him to play.
The agency said it sent letters to the player in March and April 2008; the second letter was sent three days after Rose and the Tigers lost to the Jayhawks. The player did not respond to either letter.
The infractions committee said it struck hard with its penalties because the ineligible player was used the entire season.
WOODEN WATCH
Clemson's Trevor Booker is on this year's Wooden Award watch list.
The John R. Wooden Player of the Year award, named in honor of UCLA's former coach, is given to the best player in college basketball.
Booker averaged 15.3 points a game last season and led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rebounds and field goal percentage.
-- Associated Press
icon.
