NCAA says low grades could restrict play

INDIANAPOLIS, May 6 (UPI) -- The NCAA said Tuesday some colleges could face post-season restrictions if their student-athletes don't improve in the classroom.

The NCAA said the most recent multi-year Academic Progress Rates show nearly all of the 6,272 Division I teams are achieving or exceeding academic performance levels. But NCAA President Myles Brand said 218 teams spread out over 123 institutions will be sanctioned due to poor performance.

The APR score is based on the eligibility, retention and graduation of each scholarship student-athlete. An APR of 925 projects to an NCAA graduation success rate of 60 percent. Teams scoring below 925 with a student leaving school because of academic deficiencies could lose up to 10 percent of their scholarships.

According to the NCAA, teams that receive three straight years of below 900 APR marks face the potential of restrictions on post-season competition, including bowl games and possibly NCAA basketball tournaments.

Division I programs cited for scores below 900 in men's basketball were Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas State, New Mexico State, Purdue, South Carolina and USC. In football, San Jose State and Temple were below 900.