Mike Boynton slams NCAA after Memphis punishments

After the NCAA announced punishments against Memphis following an investigation into James Wiseman’s recruitment, comparisons came in about the Oklahoma State situation. That led to a poignant response from Cowboys coach Mike Boynton on Twitter.

Following an IARP investigation, Memphis received a $5,000 fine and three years probation for Level II and Level III violations against the Tigers and coach Penny Hardaway. That means they avoided Level I violations and will not face a postseason ban — a stark contrast to what happened to Oklahoma State. The Cowboys were banned from the 2022 postseason, even after appealing sanctions related to the 2017 FBI investigation. The ban was supposed to be effective for the 2020-21 postseason, but it was delayed due to the appeal.

It was the first punishment handed out as part of the wide-ranging investigation, and Oklahoma State assistant Lamont Evans was at the center of the Cowboys’ case for illegal recruiting practices. After the Memphis ruling came out, Boynton made his point quite clear on Twitter.

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“Is this parody?!?!” Boynton tweeted, followed by a clown emoji.

After the NCAA voted to uphold the ruling to ban Oklahoma State from the postseason, Boynton was outspoken with his displeasure, even name-dropping people involved in the decision, which sparked a heated response from the NCAA.

“The message is clear,” Boynton said, per Jon Rothstein. “We had one $300 violation — no failure to monitor. No lack of institutional control. No head coach control charge. No ineligible players playing. So if you have some of that stuff — don’t do what we did.

“I’m disappointed, disgusted, appalled, but somewhere in Indianapolis, there’s a group of people celebrating.”

Oklahoma State went 15-15 overall last season and 8-10 in Big 12 action. The Cowboys will gear up to start a postseason push against UT Arlington Nov. 7.