The University of Cincinnati has a fresh start with the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

        UC president Dr. Joseph Steger received a letter from the NCAA informing him that Cincinnati's two-year probation ended Aug.7, and that the university “has been restored to the full rights and privileges of NCCA membership.”

        The letter to Steger, dated Sept.25, was from Shepard C. Cooper, director for the NCAA Infractions Committee.

        Thus ends an ordeal that began with an NCAA investigation of the men's basketball program starting in January 1997 thatresulted in sanctions being imposed in November 1998. The violations found by the NCAA mostly dealt with the eligibility of former Bearcats guard Charles Williams.

        The university imposed several sanctions on itself, including limited recruiting opportunities for coach Bob Huggins during a one-year period; reductions in Huggins' fund-raising activities for one academic year; and no recruitment of junior college players for one academic year.

        The NCAA sanctions included the loss of three scholarships for two years; this is the final season UC will be limited to 10 scholarship players.

        “We're back at the plate with no strikes on us,” athletic director Bob Goin said Monday. “I wanted to get back to point zero where we're clear and clean.”

Bearcats face 'must win' at Houston Martin's goal: make NBA all-defensive team Probation ends for UC basketball UC's Jones looks for December return

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