Milwaukee to Miss 2015 Men's Basketball Postseason

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has been informed by the NCAA's Committee on Academic Performance that it was denied the final appeal of a postseason ban for its men's basketball team in the 2014-15 season because of low cumulative Academic Performance Rate (APR) scores.

The decision means that Milwaukee is not eligible for the Horizon League Tournament or any other postseason competition following the completion of the 2014-15 regular season. The Panthers can regain postseason eligibility for the 2015-16 year.

"The academic success of our student-athletes will always be the top priority in the Milwaukee athletic department," Milwaukee Athletic Director Amanda Braun said. "We are aware that problems did occur in the past, but we have faced them and made changes and are accepting the consequences from the NCAA. Well before we even started the appeals process, we began implementing new processes to help all of our student-athletes have more success in the classroom."

Numerous changes have been set in place by the administration of the athletic department:

• Additional academic support staff has been hired, beginning in 2011. A third academic advisor was added to the staff in 2013.
• A class for incoming student-athletes, designed to help with the transition to college was put in place two years ago.
• Student-athletes are now screened to identify those with learning needs in order to provide additional academic support.

The men's basketball score for the current four-year 2012-13 cycle was 908, falling below the mandated minimum, prompting the NCAA to issue the penalty. The decision is not a sanction based on any type of violation of NCAA rules, but rather a penalty handed out because of the APR score.

"This year our men's basketball program has done extraordinarily well and we have a lot to be proud of both on and off the court," Braun said. "We are fully confident we have addressed the issues when it comes to the academic performance of our student-athletes."

Additionally, Milwaukee will have to replace four hours of practice each week with four hours of academic activities. Basketball-related activities will be limited to five days instead of six.

The NCAA recently changed its policies in regards to APR performance, moving to a higher four-year APR score of 930 in order to participate in the postseason. This year was the first Milwaukee needed to be at that higher level with its four-year average scores.

"I am very proud of the steps that we have taken in regards to the APR score," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "The quality of the student-athletes in our program cannot be stressed enough and we are fully committed to supporting them."