By Bill Koch
Cincinnati Enquirer

Eugene Land's decision to leave the University of Cincinnati basketball program with two regular-season games remaining perplexed associate athletic director Bruce Ivory.

Ivory helped Land get back into school last summer when Land first approached UC coach Bob Huggins about returning to the program after a two-year absence.

Ivory said Land did not talk to him about his decision to leave and could not confirm if the Roger Bacon High School product was still in school.

"I don't know what his issues are," Ivory said. "I wish I did. I think he made a grave mistake."

Land had told UC officials that he planned to appeal to the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility that would have allowed him to finish his degree work.

Even if his appeal had been denied he could have finished completed his degree next year under UC's Recall Program, which pays for athletes' tuition as they pursue their degree after their eligibility has expired.

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E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com