Southern Miss basketball to undergo self-imposed postseason ban for 2nd year

The Southern Miss men's basketball team will undergo a self-imposed postseason ban for the second consecutive season, the school announced on Sunday.

The decision is the result of allegations of NCAA rules violations committed under the watch of former coach Donnie Tyndall during his two years as head coach from 2012-14.

USM will not take part in the NCAA Tournament or Conference USA Tournament during the 2015-16 season.

USM and Tyndall are set to go before the NCAA this spring to address seven Level I allegations, which are judged as the most serious by the NCAA.

 “I am very disappointed for the current members of our men’s basketball team and coaching staff, none of whom were involved in any alleged violation of NCAA rules,” USM athletic director Bill McGillis said in a press release. “While excruciating due to the impact on the young men in our program today, the decision to withhold our team from postseason competition following the 2015-16 season is appropriate given the findings of the recent university and NCAA review of our program.”

Tyndall was fired after one season at Tennessee in March after the NCAA informed the school of some of the allegations. The NCAA gave USM and Tyndall its notice of allegations on July 24.

The allegations against the program during Tyndall's tenure include impermissible financial aid, fraudulent academic credit and obstructing the NCAA's investigation.

USM is entering its second season under head coach Doc Sadler after going 9-20 last year. During his first season, Sadler dealt with the loss of multiple players due to transfer and two players being ruled ineligible as a result of the NCAA probe.

The men's basketball season is set to begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday when USM travels to Memphis.

This story was originally published November 8, 2015 at 7:23 PM with the headline "Southern Miss basketball to undergo self-imposed postseason ban for 2nd year."