Posted on: Friday, August 1, 2003

NCAA bid to delay basketball rule nixed

Advertiser Staff and News Services

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A federal judge has denied a request by the NCAA to delay a decision overturning an NCAA rule that prohibits Division I basketball teams from playing in more than two exempt tournaments in a four-year period.

U.S. District Judge Edmund Sargus Jr. said Wednesday that a delay was unnecessary because the ruling would not cause the NCAA irreparable harm and the NCAA would not have a strong likelihood of success if it appealed.

Sargus ruled Monday that the NCAA's restrictions violated federal antitrust laws and granted a group of tournament promoters and organizers a permanent injunction.

The promoters were pleased with Sargus' decision.

"The NCAA merely wants to delay the injunction and make it impossible for college teams to create a schedule that permits the teams to play in the preseason tournaments," said Cincinnati attorney Stanley Chesley, who represented the promoters.

However, the NCAA advised teams on Wednesday to delay scheduling exempted events for 2003-04 while it continues to seek a stay of permanent injunction. University of Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace confirmed that he received the advisory.

"The NCAA is basically saying 'hey don't do anything until we figure out our side of it,' " Wallace said. "But we're set for (2003-04). What we're looking at is how it plays out for the following years."

According to ESPN, the NCAA has filed an appeal on Sargus' decision and will continue to try and get the decision reversed. The entire process of appeals could take up to one year before it even goes to court.