Mark WiedmerNoticed the newest Associated Press college basketball poll, the one released Monday afternoon?
Noticed that Kansas is the latest blue-blood program to be ranked No. 1? And that Louisville, last week’s No. 1, is third? And that Auburn, still undefeated this season after last year’s Final Four run, the first in school history, is 12th? And that Arizona is 16th a year after the Cactus Cats program supposedly was flirting with the death penalty?
And what do the above four programs have in common, other than they’ve obviously taken care of business early this season?
Well, all four were in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s crosshairs not 18 months ago for all matter of wrongs that seemed to paint the whole sport in a light that might make the Godfather blush.
Money laundering. Illegal payments to players, their families and their handlers (at least illegal by NCAA rules). Wire fraud.