In the wake of an 8-22 basketball season, the mid-season departure of assistant coach Nolan Myrick, the suspension of three players and the resignation of 10-year Georgia Southern coach Jeff Price, the University has brought to light an ongoing investigation by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The NCAA is investigating the men’s basketball program, but details of any violations have not been released by GSU Athletics Director Sam Baker and the University.

“It is an ongoing investigation and the institution is doing everything possible to make sure that we do all the right things and find the right answers at the end of the day,” said Baker. “Then we’ll know how to progress from there. We have worked very hard to make sure that we take all the right steps in reviewing each of the allegations that are out there.”

Of the three players suspended, two were seniors. The third, junior Antoine Johnson, was recently reinstated to the team after missing the final 10 games of the 2008-09 season.

Baker began the process of searching for the program’s new coach immediately following Price’s resignation Monday. He feels that the investigation will not impede the search for Price’s replacement.

“I think Georgia Southern’s coaching search will be one where we’ve got a lot of candidates. My email, my phone has been ringing off the hook all day. Georgia Southern is an outstanding University, Statesboro’s a great community and I think it will be very attractive to a lot of candidates. They see that Georgia Southern is a place that they can come, build a strong program and win, and I feel very confident that we’ll be able to bring someone in that will do an outstanding job for us.”

A timetable for the completion of the investigation has not been made available at this time.

Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9404.