In this Hearings newsletter:

1. The penalties for KU Hoops

2. Previewing a series of stories to come on the NCAA’s inner workings

3. Predicting four-star wing Rakease Passmore’s commitment 🔮

Support The Hearings…by sending this to KU friends and fam.

EVERYTHING IN THIS NEWSLETTER IS BASED UPON WHAT I AM HEARING FROM PEOPLE I TRUST. PLEASE DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR FACT OR FOR ACTUAL JOURNALISM, WHICH HAS VERIFICATION STANDARDS THAT I HAVE NOT ADHERED TO. I DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT.

KU’s NCAA Penalties Announced

I’m keeping this as simple as possible before getting into what’s coming over the next few days for KUHearings.

Here are the details from the findings against KU Hoops, as first reported by Sports Illustrated. The NCAA originally charged the program with five Level I violations. Each Level I violation could’ve resulted in a four-year postseason ban.

UPDATE: Kansas will vacate wins from the 2017-18 season in which Silvio De Sousa played, including the 2018 Final Four appearance. This was not included in the initial Sports Illustrated report.

• Three-year probation, with no impact on KU’s postseason eligibility. Probation means if one additional violation is found during the next three years, the school could be hit with additional sanctions.

• Bill Self’s Level I allegation was ruled a a Level III infraction, the most minor offense the NCAA allows. He was charged with no penalties.

• Kurtis Townsend’s Level I allegation was ruled a Level II and Level III violation.

TL;DR: We Good? Always.

You can read more on the NCAA’s decision here.

The NCAA’s Inner Workings: A KUHearings Series

I’ve been reporting on the behind-the-scenes of the NCAA and IARP for nearly two years. It all started in January 2022 when I set out to try and learn “what is taking so long?” with the case. The hope was to explain the process. But the deeper I went, the more complex and multifaceted the story became. Now, 20 months later I’m finally able to share it with you all.

*Note, this will likely change a bit as new information comes in…

If everything goes to plan, Part One follows KU’s journey through what was expected to be an independent process — yet seemed anything but. Still, the implications to this go far beyond KU…

Part Two: Witness the NCAA’s pattern of overcharging and underdelivering in these cases. This section should also reveals major due process concerns in enforcement. It’s a grim picture when you consider the reputational harm inflicted on those who are accused of breaking the rules.

What took so damn long? While Part Three digs into the reasons for the long cases, it also tells a story of how the NCAA uses a narrative and works the media to its advantage in rule-breaking cases.

Part Four hopes to put it all together as the NCAA’s next fight turns to Washington D.C. The NCAA is working to get written into federal law through NIL legislation. The story culminates by evaluating whether the NCAA, given its track record, should truly be trusted in overseeing college athletics.

4-Star Wing Commitment Prediction 🔮

In somewhat ironic news… 2024 four-star wing and top 50 prospect Rakease Passmore will announce his commitment tonight at 5pm CT. He’s deciding between Kansas, Oklahoma, and LSU.

Passmore visited Lawrence this weekend for Late Night in the Phog. I think that was all he needed to see.

🔮 My Prediction: Passmore commits to Kansas basketball.

You can watch his announcement live via the YouTube link here.

Check out his highlights in the tweet below. He’s a big-time athlete… ⬇️