According to Ed Daigneault, a staff writer for the Republican-American in Connecticut, UConn's issues with the NCAA APR and its looming NCAA Tournament ban could also keep it from playing in next season's Big East Tournament as well. Earlier today, Daigneault tweeted:
If #UConn's postseason ban for hoops holds, the Huskies won't play in the Big East tournament next year, either.
— Ed Daigneault (@EdDaigneault) March 29, 2012
According to Big East, league presidents agreed that any team ineligible for NCAA championship is ineligible for league championship.
— Ed Daigneault (@EdDaigneault) March 29, 2012
I'm guessing here, but because the conference tournament champion earns the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, the Big East is apparently prepared to keep UConn from competing for that automatic bid next year since the Huskies would not be allowed to use it due to the postseason ban for having an APR lower than the minimum allowed by the NCAA to participate in postseason play.
The Huskies have already lost forward Alex Oriakhi to transfer because of the upcoming postseason ban. Oriakhi was allowed to transfer without having to sit out a year because of the ban. Losing out on a trip to the Big East Tournament next year as well only adds to the fallout. UConn is currently seeking a waiver to the ruling that, if granted, would allow it to compete in both the Big East Tournament and NCAA Tournament.