The NCAA has found that no rules were broken in the academic scandal at the University of North Carolina that reportedly involved football players taking no-show classes in the school’s African and Afro-American Studies department, according to a statement from the university.

The statement reads in part:

“…Based on the joint review, UNC and the NCAA staff concluded there were no violations of current NCAA rules or student-athlete eligibility issues related to courses in African and Afro-American Studies. As a result, the NCAA did not add any allegations or include this issue during the University’s appearance in October 2011 before the Committee on Infractions.

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Karen Gil subsequently commissioned a review of courses in African and Afro-American Studies. In May, the University publicly issued that report and provided it to the NCAA.

On Aug. 23, 2012, University Counsel Leslie Strohm and Senior Associate Dean Jonathan Hartlyn provided an update to the enforcement staff. The NCAA staff reaffirmed to University officials that no NCAA rules appeared to have been broken…”

The apparent findings have been met with surprise by media members on Twitter.

NCAA concludes no violations broken in UNC's academic scandal.. Huh? Which fan base will roll eyes abt this more: NC St or Penn St?

—
Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) August 31, 2012

Lazy, inept NCAA doesn't know how to investigate. They leave the real work up to websites/bloggers/Freeh Report. SMH #NCAAisaJoke

—
Jason McIntyre (@TheBigLead) August 31, 2012

So UNC has years of documented, institutionalized academic fraud and no NCAA rules were broken? Got it.

—
Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) August 31, 2012

An internal investigation by the university discovered that 54 classes in the Afro-American Studies were “suspect.” Yahoo! Sports columnist Pat Forde reported that one class last summer featured 19 students — all current or former football players — and required only one paper.

Among the discoveries made as the school, NCAA and reporters have taken a closer look at the program is that Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks should have been ineligible during his final year at UNC.

The transcript of Bears defensive end Julius Peppers also leaked out and raised additional questions because of three “independent studies” classes that he took.

Faculty members have been outspoken in their calls for reform.

”I was sickened by it as I think most faculty around the campus were,” history professor Jay Smith said. “There is this sense that the institutional integrity of UNC is being eroded over time.”

“…I think it’s time we confronted the fact that misbehavior by a handful of individuals is in fact a symptom of a dysfunctional system,” Smith added.

The program at issue in the scandal has been renamed and given a new curriculum, according to reports. It is now known as the African, African American and Diaspora Studies department.

Nike co-founder Phil Knight will be honored by two basketball tournaments in 2017. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images Sport)

In honor of Nike co-founder Phil Knight’s 80th birthday, 16 teams sponsored by Nike will take part in two, eight-team tournaments during Nov. 2017, reports ESPN’s Andy Katz.

The two tournaments will include many of the nation’s top programs: Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Michigan State, Florida, Ohio State, Georgetown, Connecticut, Oregon, Stanford, Xavier, Butler, Oklahoma, Texas, Portland and Gonzaga, Katz reports.

Knight’s 80th birthday will be Feb. 24, 2018.

The two-tournament format comes because teams from the same conference can’t play in the same tournament, Katz reports.

Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis was reportedly the driving force behind the event.

“All of these great basketball programs have been supported by Phil Knight and Nike,” Hollis said. “His support of the programs have created scholarships and resources for these departments to excel.”

The tournament could still have to adjust if any of the programs change sponsors or conferences in the next five years.

New York Giants WR Hakeem Nicks was reportedly ineligible during his last season at North Carolina. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, now with the New York Giants, played his final season at the University of North Carolina in 2008 while ineligible because of “academic fraud,” the News & Observer‘s J. Andrew Curliss and Andrew Carter report.

Curliss and Carter cite NCAA investigation reports that show Nicks had “improper academic help” from a tutor during his time at UNC. As a result, the university will put an asterisk next to Nicks’ receiving records, Curliss and Carter report.

Nicks’ agent Peter Schaffer denied knowledge of Nicks’ ineligibility and called it “low on the totem pole of relevant issues.”

Nicks had already been implicated for providing more than $3,000 in impermissible benefits to North Carolina players, but — like the rest of the program — he has now been tied to academic improprieties as well.

UNC received a bowl ban for the upcoming season, lost 15 scholarships over the next three years and vacated its wins in 2008 and 2009 because of impermissible benefits and academic misconduct. Head coach Butch Davis was fired in July 2011.

The school’s academic issues have continued to draw attention, though. An internal investigation by the school found that 54 Afro-American Studies classes were “suspect.” Last summer, as the NCAA investigated the school, one summer class featuring 19 students — all of whom were current or former football players — required only one paper to be turned in to the department chairman at the end of the term, reports Yahoo! Sports columnist Pat Forde. 

North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall participated in practice Saturday, a day before the Tar Heels will face Kansas in the Midwest Regional final. His status is uncertain for the game.

“It’s just a matter of if I can handle the pain,” Marshall told The New York Times. “If I’m not playing, we need to do a better job creating shots as a team.”

Marshall broke the bone last Sunday in a win over Creighton.

Freshman Stilman White started in Marshall’s place Friday against Ohio, and he had two points, six assists, and no turnovers in 32 minutes.

Despite having surgery on his fractured wrist Monday, doctors say that University of North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall could still play in the NCAA tournament, according to ESPN.

“His jump shot wouldn’t be a problem,’’ Dr.Christopher Sforzo, a Florida-based orthopedic surgeon told ESPN.com. “But it’s still tough for him to handle the ball with that off hand, to push off and dribble. It’s an interesting conundrum and a real tough break for him, especially at this time of year. Maybe he could play this week, maybe by Saturday if you want to hope you get there. Or do you wait until the Final Four? There’s no easy answer.”

Marshall sustained the wrist injury during the second half of Sunday’s 87-73 win against Creighton.  Without Marshall at the point guard spot, the Tar Heels will have to rely on freshman Stilman White or senior Justin Watts as the primary ball handler.

Marshall was averaging 8.1 points, and 9.8 assists per game.  The no.1 seed Tar Heels will be playing against the 13 seed Ohio Bobcats on Friday.

North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall has a fracture in his right wrist, according to the university. Marshall injured his wrist Sunday in a win over eighth-seeded Creighton.

Marshall has a fracture in his right wrist. Status for rest of tournament is unknown.—
UNC Hoops (@UNC_Basketball) March 19, 2012

Tar Heels coach Roy Williams announced the injury following the game and said that he had no further details with regards to Marshall’s availability for the remainder of the tournament.

Marshall is averaging 7.8 points and 9.7 assists per game this season.

North Carolina forward John Henson will play against eighth-seeded Creighton today, according to the school’s official Twitter-feed.

John Henson will play today vs Creighton but may or may not start.—
UNC Hoops (@UNC_Basketball) March 18, 2012

Henson hurt his wrist during the ACC tournament and missed the Tar Heels’ opening game in the NCAA tournament.

On the season, Henson is averaging 13.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

North Carolina sophomore forward Harrison Barnes was named ACC Player of the Week after leading the Tar Heels back from a nine-point second-half deficit in a win against Miami.

Barnes Named ACC Player of the Week is.gd/ldOZvE #UNCBBall

—
UNC Hoops (@UNC_Basketball) February 21, 2012

Barnes scored 23 points (14 in the second half) against Miami as the Tar Heels came back to win 74-63. This season, Barnes is second in the ACC in scoring with 18 points per game.

University of North Carolina guard Harrison Barnes is questionable for Saturday’s game against Maryland with a sprained ankle, according to ESPN.com.

“I won’t know everything until after practice today, and I shouldn’t say ‘everything,’ because if it swells up again after practice, I won’t know that until late, after we get up to Maryland,” Tar Heel coach Roy Williams said Friday. “But I expect him to be able to go a little bit today; he said it was feeling a heck of a lot better yesterday.”

Barnes leads UNC in scoring at 17.3 points per game.

The No. 8 North Carolina men’s basketball team suffered a huge blow tonight, as starting guard Dexter Strickland has been lost for the season to a torn right ACL.

Dexter Strickland tore his right anterior cruciate ligament last night at Va Tech and will miss rest of season...surgery TBA...get well Dex

—
UNC Hoops (@UNC_Basketball) January 21, 2012

Strickland, a junior combo guard, fell while going up for a shot in transition early in the second half of the Tar Heels’ win last night at Virginia Tech. He writhed in pain holding the back of his right knee before leaving the floor. He was evaluated by team doctors earlier today before the team broke the news tonight that he was done for the season.

Strickland was averaging 7.5 points and 2.1 assists this season. He was known as the team’s best perimeter defender and their alternate point guard when fellow starter Kendall Marshall was off the floor.

Sophomore Reggie Bullock and freshman P.J. Hairston are both likely to see more playing time in Strickland’s absence. The Tar Heels next take the floor on Thursday, when they host N.C. State at the Dean E. Smith Center.