Rebels plead their case in Chicago

Steve Addy

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001 | 11:42 a.m.

UNLV made its case to the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee today in Chicago, hoping to convince the panel to overturn this year's postseason ban against the basketball program.

University president Dr. Carol Harter and attorney Michael Glazier addressed the five-person committee during a three-hour meeting at the Chicago Downtown Marriott.

"I feel we presented a compelling case before the committee and I do hope they give us very serious consideration on this matter," Harter said in a statement. "Regardless of what the ultimate ruling is, I think it was important to seek this re-hearing on behalf of coach (Max) Good and our current players."

The NCAA levied the postseason ban Dec. 12 with other major sanctions against the Rebels, including four years probation. While accepting all of the other penalties and findings, Harter appealed the ban because she felt it was unfair to players who were blameless for the sanctions.

Because of a Mountain West Conference rule, the Rebels are also banned from the MWC tournament March 8-10 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The NCAA is expected to rule within two weeks, but UNLV's chances of winning the appeal aren't good. The NCAA has heard 27 appeals of postseason bans, but has overturned only one -- Louisville in 1998 -- because of a procedural error.

Harter made a brief statement to the committee, then Glazier did all of the talking on UNLV's behalf. The hearing was a scaled-down version of the university's Sept. 22 hearing before the Committee on Infractions in Dallas, with statements by both sides, then a rebuttal by the school.

The crux of UNLV's case was that the Rebels did not receive a "competitive advantage" from the improper recruitment of Lamar Odom in 1997.

Pitino, who huddled with Cavagnaro on Jan. 17 in Miami, reiterated his interest in the UNLV coaching job Tuesday, but wants to make sure the school is fully committed to a nationally prominent program and that NCAA sanctions won't be too onerous.