Hey, NCAA, show your cards: If KU broke the rules, it’s time to reveal the punishment

Enough is enough. How long does it take to prove the Kansas Jayhawks basketball program cheated, as the NCAA enforcement staff has alleged, or clear the program of wrongdoing?

Could a compromise be in the works? Perhaps. But no one knows for sure, and that’s unfortunate for the KU fan base and its current players.

Per NCAA rules, KU officials are not allowed to speak on any aspect of the NCAA’s investigation into allegations that KU basketball recruits were illegally swayed to attend the school. The NCAA’s enforcement staff is prohibited from commenting on active inquiries as well.

Here’s what is known: In 2017, the FBI cracked down on illegal payoffs in college sports. Two years later, KU received official notice from the NCAA, which alleged KU’s men’s basketball program committed five Level I violations. The infractions, including alleged illegal payments to the families of prospective student-athletes, are considered the most egregious.

Self and his lawyers have staunchly disputed the allegations.

After nearly three years of back and forth with the NCAA and an independent resolution panel that will decide the appropriate penalties, the case has yet to be resolved.

Now that college players are allowed to make money from their name, image and likeness, it’s even more important to expedite this drawn out process. KU basketball is being held hostage by an outdated amateur model that was nearly unenforceable until the feds got involved.

Student-athletes being able to benefit from NIL opportunities represents progress. But the waiting game apparently rankled famed college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale, as it should the KU faithful.

“I firmly believe that if the ⁦@NCAA⁩ can’t make a decision within a 2 year period in cases where they have charged member schools with violations the case SHOULD BE DROPPED,” Dickie V fired off on Twitter July 24. “Taking 4 -5 years is ABSOLUTELY ABSURD!,” he wrote.

Despite capturing the NCAA national title in March, an unbelievable feat considering the circumstances, the uncertainty still lingering around KU basketball is unfair to current players who have little to do with the alleged wrongdoing.

Did head coach Bill Self and his top lieutenant, assistant coach Kurtis Townsend, know of impermissible benefits being paid to prospective student-athletes years ago? I find it hard to believe Self wouldn’t know every single aspect of the comings and goings of KU hoops.

But a convicted felon, former Adidas consultant Thomas “T.J.” Gassnola, has already testified in federal court that he worked to conceal from Self and others connected to the program illegal payments made to potential Jayhawks.

Adidas is KU’s multimillion-dollar apparel sponsor.

Last week, a CBS report indicated Self and Townsend were held off the road this summer for the live recruiting period. The summer months are important for college coaches, who have the opportunity to watch prospects in action against high-level competition.

Keeping Self and Townsend at home over the last several weeks could signal KU is working to take ownership of some of the program’s indiscretions.

In this space, I’ve been critical of Self’s plausible deniability regarding possible NCAA recruiting violations. But the holding pattern the Jayhawks program has faced is inexcusable.

KU’s case is being handled through the independent accountability resolutions process, which has no option for appeal. All punitive decisions are final. An independent panel will decide what penalties are appropriate

But the sooner the five-member body gets around to announcing KU’s potential punishment, the better.