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Alabama State’s postseason ban rescinded by NCAA

Josh Freelove, Lewis Jackson

Alabama State guard Josh Freelove (4) listens as coach Lewis Jackson gives him sideline instructions during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Florida State, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated Alabama State 84-35. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)

AP

Earlier this spring it was announced by the NCAA that Alabama State was one of six men’s basketball programs to be banned from postseason play in 2013-14 due to low Academic Progress Rate (APR) numbers.

On Friday, Alabama State announced that after the NCAA’s evaluation of additional data submitted by the athletic department the Hornets are no longer subject to that ban. Alabama State also received the good news regarding its football, baseball and volleyball programs.

“Once the NCAA evaluated that additional academic performance data, assessed our ASU Academic Improvement Plan and reviewed us according to its Limited Resource Institution component, the NCAA staff determined that ASU will not be penalized,” Alabama State interim athletic director Melvin Hines said in the statement released by the school.

One of the points of contention with the new APR guidelines in recent years has been the fact that schools without the resources needed to make sure their student-athletes remain on track academically are the ones most often penalized. Taking into consideration that lack of resources is the right thing to do when the NCAA looks at cases such as Alabama State’s.

Lewis Jackson’s Hornets finished the 2012-13 season with a 10-22 record, finishing SWAC play with an 8-10 league record. Next year’s team has just one senior on the roster (guard Denzel McDaniel), and the Hornets will also have to account for the departures of leading scorers Josh Freelove (13.3 ppg) and Phillip Crawford (13.2, 6.1 rpg).

But even with the heavy personnel changes (Alabama State adds five newcomers, with four being junior college transfers) at the very least the Hornets know that they’ll be able to compete for the SWAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Raphielle can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.