The NCAA Hands Out Sanctions

Although men's basketball teams continue to struggle, far fewer sports programs faced sanctions than expected, according to the most recent report from the National Collegiate Athletic Association. In fact, baseball and football showed "measurable progress."

Of the 6,272 teams in Division I sports, the NCAA this year penalized 218 teams from 123 schools—based in part on the academic eligibility and graduation rates of student-athletes. The NCAA sanctioned 53 men's basketball programs, and some could lose scholarships.

Smaller programs—like Sacramento State University and the University of Alabama-Birmingham—were the hardest hit, raising criticism that schools from powerful sports conferences have an easier time escaping NCAA penalties.