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CSU Bakersfield men's basketball deemed eligible for postseason play

The California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) men’s basketball team was declared eligible for postseason competition by the NCAA following a review of updated Academic Progress Rate(APR) data.

“When CSUB alerted us to their belief that the data they had submitted to determine the current APR were not correct, we immediately initiated a full-scale review to ensure that postseason eligibility determinations were based on accurate information,” said Diane Dickman, managing director of Academic and Membership Affairs. “Our staff conducted an exhaustive review in close collaboration with CSUB administrators.”

Initially, CSUB submitted a four-year APR average below 900, resulting in the school’s postseason ineligibility announced in June. The announcement was based upon data submitted and verified by CSUB over the past four years. At the conclusion of the NCAA review, the correct data collection revealed the men’s basketball team met the 900 APR threshold, resulting in postseason eligibility.    

“We are thankful to the NCAA for reviewing our situation and grateful that the determination was made that CSUB should be ‘postseason eligible’ in the upcoming men's basketball season,” said CSUB President Dr. Horace Mitchell. “We are optimistic about the future of the APR in our men's basketball program knowing that Coach Barnes and his staff are dedicated to the success of student-athletes on and off the court.”

As a part of the review, the Committee on Academic Performance required CSUB to create or revise a number of procedures to address the inaccurate reporting of data, including:

• Development of a procedure for performing degree audits for student-athletes who transfer to CSUB, continuing student-athletes and student-athletes who leave CSUB. This procedure must include a process for correctly determining the number of quarters transfer student-athletes have been enrolled on transfer to CSUB.
• Revising its eligibility certification form to include the number of remedial credits taken by student-athletes each term.

In addition, at its July meeting, the Committee on Academic Performance amended its policies to require all institutions to confirm that data considered as part of a waiver is accurate and that no data issues are outstanding before the NCAA staff and Committee proceed with the review of a waiver.