Louisville Gets One-Year Ban From Postseason Play

The NCAA banned the Louisville men’s basketball team from postseason play for a year Tuesday and put the school on three years’ probation because of rule violations.

The two violations in the men’s basketball and seven in women’s volleyball programs involved extra benefits, recruiting, financial aid, institutional control and ethical conduct.

The Division I Committee on Infractions handed down other penalties as well, among them a reduction of scholarships in both sports.

The basketball program’s postseason ban also will include this season’s Conference USA tournament.

“We had nearly 100% agreement with the NCAA enforcement staff on all facts of the case,” said John Shumaker, university president. “The NCAA’s response has been tough but the sanctions are fair and I respect their conclusions.”

The allegations came to light early last year and, after an investigation that produced hundreds of pages of testimony, the NCAA in April issued a formal letter of inquiry into both programs.

The university acknowledged seven of the volleyball infractions involving recruiting violations and rules prohibiting extra benefits for athletes or their families. It disagreed with the two other allegations, that it did not sufficiently educate volleyball Coach Leonid Yelin about NCAA rules and that then-assistant basketball coach Scooter McCray obtained a discounted hotel rate for the father of forward Nate Johnson.

Louisville was put on probation for two years in 1996 after an investigation unearthed questions about former basketball player Samaki Walker’s use of two cars in 1995.

Because the new violation involving the basketball program occurred within five years of the starting date of the previous penalties, the committee applied its repeat-violator provisions to the case.

“Certainly, I’m deeply disappointed and saddened by the decision,” Coach Denny Crum said in a statement. “Regardless of the outcome of the decision, I am ultimately responsible for our basketball program and I feel bad that it has had such a negative effect on our program and this university.”

Pro Basketball

The Denver Nuggets named Mike D’Antoni coach, assigning him the daunting task of rebuilding one of the worst teams in NBA history.

D’Antoni, 47, who spent seven years coaching in the Italian League, becomes Denver’s seventh coach this decade. He joined the Nuggets as director of player personnel last year.

D’Antoni said he intends to shape the league’s doormat into a competitive team by installing a fast-paced offense.

He replaces Bill Hanzlik, a first-year coach who was fired after the Nuggets’ 11-71 season.

The Clippers are the only NBA team without a coach.

Steve Smith, an assistant coach with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, was named to a similar position by the Detroit Shock.

Tennis

Mary Joe Fernandez defeated Lisa Raymond, 7-6 (8-6), 7-5, in the first round of the $450,000 Toyota Princess Cup at Tokyo.

Naoko Sawamatsu of Japan beat Anna Smashnova of Israel, 6-1, 6-2, and Julie Halard-Decugis of France beat Kimberly Po, 6-0, 6-3.

Three of this season’s Grand Slam tournament winners--Pete Sampras, Patrick Rafter and Carlos Moya--decided to skip next week’s $6.7-million Grand Slam Cup in Germany, the International Tennis Federation said.

Petr Korda, winner of the Australian Open, received the top seeding and a first-round bye.

Women are competing in the tournament for the first time, and the four Grand Slam champions are entered, Martina Hingis, Jana Novotna, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Lindsay Davenport.

The men’s winner receives $1.3 million, the women’s winner $800,000.

The tournament runs Tuesday through Sunday at Munich’s Olympic Hall.