Southern Miss faces NCAA review

Southern Mississippi’s basketball program is under NCAA review for unspecified reasons.

Athletic director Bill McGillis confirmed a Bleacher Report story that the school is cooperating with the NCAA as it looks at potential issues related to men’s basketball. No other details of the nature of the review were made public.

Former Southern Miss coach Donnie Tyndall left after last season to become Tennessee’s coach. Former Nebraska coach Doc Sadler took over at Southern Miss.

Tyndall said from Tennessee he had not been contacted by the NCAA but would fully cooperate if the need arises. Tennessee officials said in a statement Thursday that the university did a background check on Tyndall before he was hired.

Bleacher Report indicated the violations involve Proposition 48 players who were ruled academically ineligible by the NCAA upon enrolling in college. According to the report, there are questions about where these players, who were enrolled in classes at Southern Miss trying to gain their eligibility, were getting money for tuition and rent.

Tyndall’s Morehead State team in 2010 was placed on probation for two years because of recruiting violations involving a booster.