By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Atlantic 10 Conference is investigating Fordham University's alleged use of electronic transmission to call out Xavier University's plays during Saturday's game at Cintas Center.

BY THE BOOK

Section 9. Direct Technical Fouls for Unsporting Conduct of Bench Personnel Art. 11. Using electronic transmission (e.g., headsets, cellular telephones, modular telephones, television, radio, audio or video Internet broadcast), or knowledge gained resulting from thereof, to communicate to and from the bench area or using television monitors or replay equipment at courtside for coaching purposes. A.R. 14. The referee notices that the head coach of Team A is using electronic transmission (e.g., headsets, cellular telephones, modular telephones) to communicate with someone in the stands. This is discovered (a) before the start of the game or (b) during the game. RULING: In (a), the official asks the coach to remove the headset and discontinue using it. In (b), a direct technical foul shall be assessed to the head coach.

At the Atlantic 10's request, Xavier has sent videotapes of the alleged incident to the conference office in Philadelphia.

Atlantic 10 commissioner Linda Bruno said Monday she did not have enough information to comment on the situation.

Xavier coaches typically communicate their offensive sets to players by writing on a dry-erase board.

By viewing the videotape, the conference office will try to determine if Fordham had team representatives stationed on either side of the court with walkie-talkies.

Theoretically, if the Fordham bench knew what play the Musketeers were going to run, Fordham coaches would be able to tip off their own players.

Near the end of the first half of Saturday's game, a Xavier team manager approached a Fordham team manager who was sitting opposite the Fordham bench and allegedly talking into a walkie-talkie device.

The Fordham manager was notified that such communication was not allowed during NCAA basketball games. The Fordham manager moved back to the Fordham bench before halftime.

After the game, which Xavier won 74-52, Fordham coach Dereck Whittenburg denied any incident took place.

"There's no walkie-talkies," Whittenburg said. "I don't know what you're talking about. You got any evidence of that? I have no idea of what you're talking about."

The Fordham manager declined to give his name or comment on the situation.

NCAA rules stipulate that teams may not communicate to and from the bench area by way of electronic transmission. If a referee catches a team engaging in such activity during a game, a technical foul is supposed to be called.

In this case, referees did not witness the alleged communication. XU officials notified the officials at halftime.

The conference office did not say when it would complete its investigation, or if any penalties would be levied against Fordham.

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E-mail ddow@enquirer.com