Silvio De Sousa is suspended two years for a rules violation that investigators agree he did not know about or benefit from. That is patently unfair and at different points in NCAA history would not have been punished.

The bigger story here, though, is that many in and around college sports believe this is merely the first step in a bigger play against the Kansas men’s basketball program and Hall of Fame coach Bill Self.

“The NCAA wants to prove something and that’s the way it’s been for a while,” said a Division I coach. “Right or wrong, there’s been smoke (around KU basketball) but they haven’t been able to get anything to stick. The FBI and the (Adidas) trial ... this is their best chance. That’s what I see.”