07cdssp1.jpg Colorado's assistant coach Steve McClain , right, listens as head coach Jeff Bzdelik shouts during college basketball action against the Wyoming Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007 in Laraymie, Wyo. (AP Photo/Laramie Boomerang, Andy Carpenean)

As a result of the information provided by the University of Colorado Academic Progress Rate (APR) report, based on information for the four year period between 2003-04 and 2006-07, the CU men's basketball team has received what the NCAA calls a "historical penalty."

The CU APR report shows that of the 16 varsity sports at CU, all but men's basketball are in good standing in their four-year APR. Eight of the school's athletic programs improved upon their scores from the previous year, including three CU programs that earned a perfect 1000 score for the 2006-07 annual report in men's golf, women's skiing and women's tennis.

The men's basketball team, however, scored an 873 (875 in '06-07), below the 925 bench mark established by the NCAA. This was the third time in four years the team had not attained the minimum score. Failure to achieve an overall score of 925 first results in a "historical penalty" amounting to a public reprimand and a requirement to submit an academic improvement plan to the NCAA, which CU has done. Any subsequent historical penalties would result in scholarship reductions and restrictions on practice time.

"Since our arrival, the team grade point average has increased significantly, and those who have transferred have left in good academic standing," CU men's basketball head coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "Academic discipline is extremely important to me and my entire staff."

Nationally, 218 programs have received some kind of sanction, including 53 Division I men's basketball programs, 113 of which will receive immediate penalties and another 35 that will be penalized as well as receive a public warning for historically low performance. Those receiving the historical public warning only, as is Colorado's case, number 44 in all, with 26 to face a historically-based penalty restricting scholarships and practice. Three other Big 12 Conference schools were sanctioned, including one other in men's basketball, Kansas State; Kansas was cited in football and Oklahoma State in women's basketball.

To be removed from probation, a program needs three consecutive years of 900 or higher on the multi-year APR score; if an institution incurs another failing score while on probation, it would be subject up to 10 percent in scholarship losses, with the penalties increasing with each consecutive year of non-compliance. There are also restrictions placed on practice time.

"Our overall success continues to be the result of a healthy academic environment created by many where success becomes possible and it's evident in the report," CU athletic director Mike Bohn said. "I am proud of our student-athletes, our coaches and our passionate staff in academics.

"We all are confident in our men's basketball leadership implementing our academic improvement plan," Bohn added. "(Coach) Jeff Bzdelik participated in developing the plan, and all indications are that the program is headed in the right direction."

Points are deducted to student-athletes who record either "0-for-2's,", those who have left school, quit or transferred in poor academic standing, and "1-for 2's," athletes done with eligibility still working toward their degrees. In the long run they don't hurt the school as when they graduate, the program will pickup those points. None of the current APR info for men's basketball are for any of Bzdelik's recruits.

Football had the only other score below 900 in CU's 2006-07 APR report. Twenty-four players over the four years of the information collected affected CU's 888 football score, 18 of whom were recruited by former head coach Gary Barnett and six by current coach Dan Hawkins.