NCAA puts TSU men's program on probation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee State was placed on three years' probation Friday by the NCAA for rules violations under former men's basketball coach Nolan Richardson III.

TSU, which competes with Southeast Missouri State University in the Ohio Valley Conference, was cited for violating rules regarding tryouts, out-of-season practices, recruiting inducements, coaching staff limitations and ethical conduct.

The NCAA's committee on infractions said it was TSU's second major infractions case in four years -- the other was in the football program -- so the school was considered a repeat offender.

The university also will lose one scholarship next year and the year after, reducing the total to 12. Its recruiting days will be cut for two years, and there will be limited onsite visits by recruits.

The university was not charged with a failure to monitor or lack of institutional control -- the most serious charges the NCAA can levy. The committee noted that none of the coaches involved in the violations still works at Tennessee State.

Richardson resigned Jan. 8 with a 23-41 record in two-plus seasons.