the Informer

Controversy is preventing one men’s basketball team from showing up to play in the America East tournament this weekend. 

Monday, Binghamton University President Lois B. DeFleur released a statement announcing that they would not participate in the America East Tournament.

DeFleur wrote, “This action is being done voluntarily as part of our commitment to move forward as we develop a comprehensive plan to address the recommendations of the recent review.

“We commend our student-athletes and coaches for the dedication and determination they have maintained throughout this very challenging year. They have far surpassed expectations. However with the controversy currently surrounding the program it is not appropriate we play in this year’s post-season.”

A four-month investigation that culminated with the February release of a report by retired judge Judith Kaye led to this statement from the university. 

First, the team is alleged to have “compromised athletic standards” when recruiting players to build a better team, according to ESPN.

Officials at the university are alleged to have put on pressure to admit students that otherwise wouldn’t have gotten into the university.

The report says two recruits with under 2.0 grade point average were admitted into the school despite the admission office’s objections, according to ESPN. 

There were also a flood of criminal activities that led to this decision. Emanuel Mayben was arrested in September for selling cocaine and was dismissed from the university, along with five other teammates. 

Other incidents included three players getting charged for stealing a Binghamton University’s debit card and using it to make purchases for items, like a television.  

Jenna Rosenberg, a senior at the university said of the controversy, “First of all, the people who made the mistakes are no longer part of the team. Secondly, the administration only announced that they weren’t allowing the team to compete on Monday night which was only a couple days before the team was supposed to leave for Hartford.”

Rosenberg said, “Despite having our five star players and our coach get kicked off the team this year, Binghamton was still able to make it to the fifth seed… in the tournament. I think that’s a lot better than most people expected them to do and it’s only fair to let the guys who did a lot of extra hard work this year get a chance to play in the tournament.”

Binghamton came off of a stellar 2008-2009 season, clinching the season championship and winning the America East tournament. They appeared in the NCAA tournament, but lost to Duke in the first round of the 65 team tournament.
Binghamton placed fifth in the America East this year. and had strong performances all year from scorers Dylan Talley and Greer Wright.

So while Binghamton gives up its fifth seed in the tournament, other teams are benefitted in being shifted up seeds in the tournament.