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How Long Will Malik Pope Be Suspended?
The Aztec forward is likely done for the season
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San Diego State is attempting to be pro-active
The FBI probe within college basketball has exploded with the recent report by Yahoo Sports listed San Diego State forward Malik Pope as a player who received $1,400 money from ASM.
The Aztecs have been proactive and suspended Pope from team activities and are looking into the situation. He did not travel with the team as they headed to take on San Jose State on Saturday.
So, what does it mean that from the NCAA stand point that Pope is linked to receiving $1,400 from an agent. For starters it is not good.
The NCAA bylaws state that a player who received $1,000 or more in benefits could be suspended for a minimum of one year and repayment of that money. In theory, Pope is likely out for the year and we do not even know if the money has been paid back.
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The thinking on the San Diego State side is that by sitting Pope right away they might be able to have a lighter sentence, or avoid punishment right away.
The one likely argument which Pope and San Diego State will use is that they were not aware of the money going to the player. The Aztecs are already doing that.
“I’d like to say that I’m confident that our staff has done the right things,” head coach Brian Dutcher said, “that neither I or any member of our staff knows Andy Miller or any of his associates or are associated with them in any way.
“We’ve taken great pride in our compliance here at San Diego State. In 19-plus years, I think everybody knows we run a program that abides by NCAA rules and take great pride in that and will continue to do that.”
Odd are that we have seen the last of Pope in an Aztec uniform.