N.C.A.A. Follows Familiar Pattern in Punishment for Auburn

Bruce Pearl, the coach of Auburn men’s basketball, was suspended for two games on Friday and the N.C.A.A. accepted a series of the school’s self-imposed bans over the last several years as punishment for a former assistant coach, Chuck Person, funneling cash to players.

The case is among nearly a dozen that are tied to a federal corruption investigation targeting college basketball more than four years ago. Pearl escaped virtually unscathed even though the N.C.A.A. categorized the violations as its most serious (Level 1) and cited him for failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance. He had previously been hit with a three-year show-cause penalty after lying to N.C.A.A. investigators while…