I’m starting to think the Tennessee basketball coaching job is cursed. First the Bruce Pearl BBQ, then the mistreatment of Cuonzo Martin, then the NCAA investigation surrounding Donnie Tyndall, and now this. This morning, the Chronicle of Higher Education published claims of academic impropriety in the Texas basketball program while Rick Barnes was head coach. Tennessee hired Barnes a few months ago after he and the Longhorns mutually parted ways.
The report centers around three former Texas basketball players: Martez Walker, J’Covan Brown, and PJ Tucker. Two former Texas academic advisors told the Chronicle that Walker was caught taking photos of test questions with his phone and texting them to people to ask for help during a final in the fall of 2013.