2009-12-13-sdc-sudartmouth1.JPG

SU's coach Jim Boeheim along with Athletic Director Dr. Darryl Gross enjoys watching the SU women play against Dartmouth College in the Carrier Dome. Stephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-Standard

(Stephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-Standard)

Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse University, in response to an NCAA investigation, has self-imposed a ban on its men's basketball team from postseason play this season.

The university announced this afternoon that it had previously notified the NCAA of the ban as part of its pending case before the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

» Related: NCAA can still hand down more sanctions

SU imposed the ban "as a further means of acknowledging past mistakes," the university said in a news release.

"I am very disappointed that our basketball team will miss the opportunity to play in the postseason this year," SU basketball coach Jim Boeheim said in the release. "However, I supported this decision and I believe the University is doing the right thing by acknowledging that past mistakes occurred. Our players have faced adversity and challenges before. I know they will rise to this challenge by keeping our program strong and continuing to make our University proud."

He cited his particular disappointment that senior Rakeem Christmas won't be able to end his career with postseason play.

SU initiated the investigation when it self-reported potential violations to the NCAA in 2007, the news release said.

"Much of the conduct involved in the case occurred long ago and none occurred after 2012," the release said. "No current student-athlete is involved."

SU instituted a series of reforms in 2007 to strengthen policies and procedures, implement a series of best practices, and realign and improve a range of student-athlete support services, the release said.

"Syracuse's history demonstrates a strong commitment to integrity, responsibility and fairness — values I have personally observed in practice many times since becoming chancellor last year," Chancelor Kent Syverud said in the release.

"The University has taken this matter seriously and worked with the NCAA for nearly eight years to investigate and address potential rules violations. The process has been exhaustive," he said.

SU appeared before the committee on infractions in October 2014.

The one-year ban includes the NCAA tournament, the ACC tournament and the National Invitational Tournament, the release said.

SU has other self-imposed penalties that it has instituted and that the committee on infractions will announce when it issues its final report, the news release said.

"We have taken responsibility for past violations and worked hard to ensure they are not repeated," Syverud said. "I am disappointed for our current men's basketball players who must shoulder this post-season ban. I also recognize that not participating in post-season play will be disappointing for many in the University community and to all Orange supporters."

» Related: SU captains release statement

By enforcing the postseason ban this year Syracuse likely helped preserve NCAA Tournament appearances for future teams equipped to go deeper into the postseason.

Most experts expected Syracuse to face a rebuilding task this year, where simply qualifying for the NCAA Tournament would constitute a significant achievement. Some anticipated an NIT bid was in the offing. Based on the current team and recruiting classes, the Orange appear to be gearing up for deep tournament runs in upcoming years.

The last time the team missed the postseason entirely was the 1992-93 season, when the team was also being sanctioned by the NCAA. The team was allowed to play in the Big East Tournament that year.