NCAA bans Toledo hoops from postseason over grades

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — The Toledo men’s basketball team will be banned from next year’s postseason because of past academic problems.

The school said Wednesday the NCAA denied its appeal of the ban that stems from several years of below-standard Academic Performance Rate scores.

Toledo says its poor scores date back to the 2007-08 season and that it had asked the NCAA to look at its most recent academic performance from the 2011-12 school year.

The school says the team’s grades have exceeded the NCAA standards under second-year coach Tod Kowalczyk (KUH’-wawl-chihk).

In addition postseason, Toledo will be forced to give up three regular-season games and cut its practice time.

The Rockets last year lost three scholarships because of poor academics, but still managed to finish in the middle of the Mid-American Conference.