Not every academic institution can be as discerning as Duke. Not every college can attract athletes whose academic and police records are as impressive as their pivot moves. A Los Angeles Times study found 209 examples of college athletes or team personnel who were involved in police incidents in 1995. Inevitably, permissive admission policies lead to some adverse publicity. This is a price UC has been willing to pay for decades, and it has allowed Huggins the latitude to build a team that has sold out the Shoemaker Center for the entire season.
Different institutions have different levels of tolerance.
Idaho's board of education last year forbade coaches from recruiting athletes who had committed felonies and banned convicted felons from further participation in intercollegiate athletics. On the other end of the moral spectrum is Long Island University, whose basketball team features the infamous Richie Parker. Parker is serving five years' probation after pleading guilty to first-degree sexual abuse of a former high school classmate. Parker plays against Xavier on Tuesday night. Seats are still available.