New Mexico St. Program suspended

[Da Coach]

Gregg Marshall coaching tree still making its impacts felt across college basketball. It's likely this culture existed while Jans was there too...it doesn't just pop up in one season.

Yes. Some are saying this hire of Greg Heier, a former long time assistant under Gregg Marshall, "should go down as one of the worst administrative decisions in college sports in a long time."

https://twitter.com/CBB_Central/status/1624900630027304961

More details are leaking out about the circumstances that lead to New Mexico State suspending basketball operations, and cancelling the remainder of their season. The term "hazing" has been used by the university, but it is much worse. Las Cruces police are now investigating "false imprisonment...harassment... and multiple counts of criminal sexual contact". These allegations are said to have started last July or August and continued until last week.
More details, plus copies of the police report. Players' names are redacted, but the accusations are horrific-

https://www.ktsm.com/news/false-imprisonment-sexual-contact-among-hazing-allegations-against-new-mexico-state-mens-basketball-players/

The police report cites three offenses for the three players: one count of false imprisonment, one count of harassment and two counts of criminal sexual contact. The victim told police that the incidents had been occurring since July or August of 2022.
In the witness report, the victim states that on Feb. 6, 2023, three members of the basketball team – whose names were redacted in the police report released to KTSM – allegedly, “held him down with him facing down, removed his clothing exposing his buttocks and began to ‘slap his ass.’ He also went on to state that they also touched his scrotum.”
The victim also alleges in the report that the inappropriate physical and sexual touching by his teammates had been ongoing issues inside the locker room at both the Pan American Center and on road trips.
The victim also told police that the incidents would usually happen in front of the entire team and that no one ever intervened.
The police report also states that there could be another member of the NMSU basketball program that has been subjected to the hazing and inappropriate conduct.

[64NIT]

WAC forfeits New Mexico State's remaining schedule

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/35654875/wac-deems-new-mexico-state-remaining-schedule-forfeits

[Da Coach]

WAC forfeits New Mexico State's remaining schedule

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...edule-forfeits

From the ESPN article:
The Aggies' schedule included games at California Baptist (Feb. 11), home and away vs. Abilene Christian (Feb. 15 and March 1), home vs. Texas-Rio Grande Valley (Feb. 18 , home vs. Grand Canyon (Feb. 22) and at Tarleton (March 6). Each opponent will be given a conference win in the WAC standings; however, the NCAA will not recognize the forfeited games as part of the teams' overall record.

I suppose this was the best solution to the problem. But it does create some unfairness to some conference teams that don't get the advantage of an extra win via forfeit without even having to play the game. It also robs 3 teams of a home game that will not be played now.
New Mexico State was the last place team in the WAC conference, and none of their remaining games were against the top 5 teams in the standings (Link: WAC Standings). But with several games left for every team, the free wins via forfeits could have an effect on the final standings and tournament seeding for the teams involved

[64NIT]

New Mexico State fires men's basketball coach Greg Heiar

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/35660932/new-mexico-state-fires-men-basketball-coach-greg-heiar

[BradleyBiz]

Does Conference USA seriously look at withdrawing the NMSU invitation?

[Da Coach]

Does Conference USA seriously look at withdrawing the NMSU invitation?

Good question. IMO, it is not likely. New Mexico State is scheduled to join the CUSA July 1, 2023. And both the WAC and CUSA have already made their plans for the 2023-24 season with the new changes, it would be difficult at this point to reverse this decision. For example, the CUSA has already announced their 2023 football schedule-

https://fbschedules.com/2023-conference-usa-football-schedule-announced/

Since this scandal only affects men's basketball, and not the other 15 sports that NMSU has, and since NMSU seems to be making the right decisions and moves to clean up and correct their problems. I would be surprised if the CUSA would reject them now. It remains to be seen who they hire as their new basketball coach, but I expect it to be someone with no hint of scandal or ethical concerns in their past.

[yoda]

Two former Missouri Valley staff are hit with even more lawsuits for their actions at NMSU.
Former Wichita State & Gregg Marshall assistant Greg Heiar & former SIU AD Mario Moccia,
..the allegations include physical & sexual abuse and misconduct.
Heiar was fired but now coaches elsewhere, but Moccia is still there as Athletic Director at New Mexico State University
Three ex-players are also defendants.

https://www.ktsm.com/sports/college-sports/nmsu/two-more-lawsuits-filed-against-nmsu-for-2022-mens-basketball-hazing-incidents/

New Mexico State's program is hardly unfamiliar with controversy lately
LINK - LINK - LINK - LINK