The University of Hawaii men’s basketball team’s postseason ban and other penalties for the coming season must be reconsidered, the NCAA announced this morning in a news release of a decision by its Infractions Appeals Committee.

UH’s fate is now back in the hands of the NCAA’s Division I Committee on Infractions, but with the recommendation of using a “less stringent” penalty structure.

Meanwhile, ex-coach Gib Arnold’s appeal of a three-year “show cause” order by the NCAA was denied by the appeals committee, it was announced in a separate but simultaneous release.

The announcements come two weeks out from the start of the 2016-17 regular season. As it stands, the Rainbow Warriors and second-year coach Eran Ganot are ineligible for the Big West Conference tournament in March and any subsequent postseason tournament.

UH’s penalties, which included the postseason ban, a reduction of two scholarships for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons and a fine, will all be reconsidered, the IAC said. No time frame for a final resolution was announced in today’s release.

UH said it is “cautiously optimistic” in its own news release.

“This is very encouraging and we appreciate the NCAA for all of their work on this matter,” UH athletic director David Matlin stated. “We are looking forward to a final decision. This has been a very difficult time for our Athletics Department in particular our men’s basketball program. However, we believe we’ll all come out of this much stronger.”

In February, UH appealed what it considered harsh penalties by the NCAA in its ruling of violations committed during the tenure of former coach Arnold. In April UH argued the COI “abused its discretion” in applying the postseason ban without finding any Level I violations or a lack of institutional control or failure to monitor.

UH’s Level II and III violations included impermissible coaching activities and extra benefits for student-athletes. The sanctions were announced by the NCAA on Dec. 22.

The NCAA adopted a new tiered system of punishment for infractions on Oct. 30, 2012.

UH argued that its punishment should occur under the NCAA’s previous structure, since its violations began before that date. Arnold was fired on Oct. 28, 2014.

However, “significant weight” was placed on “false and misleading information” supplied by Arnold as well as “unethical actions” by former assistant coach Brandyn Akana that occurred after Oct. 30, 2012, the COI decided in applying its new penalty structure.

The appeals committee today noted “there is no indication that the university encouraged the behavior or failed to warn the coaches that such behavior would not be acceptable. The appeals committee did not find the connection needed to tip the balance to the new infractions structure.”

It continued, “As a result, the appeals committee sent the case back to the hearing panel to determine which infraction structure is less stringent and review the postseason ban, scholarship reductions and financial penalty under that infractions structure.”

NCAA: Penalties appealed in Hawaii case sent back to committee by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd

NCAA: Gib Arnold's violations upheld by appeals committee by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd