photo by: AP File Photo

A University of Kansas basketball player wears an adidas practice jersey in this file photo from March 2016.

The Independent Accountability Resolution Process on Monday released a timeline of the developments in the infractions case against the University of Kansas men’s basketball team.

However, in the 52 entries that outlined updates in the case from May 8, 2020 through Aug. 30, 2021, none of them hint at any kind of projected ruling or outcome.

The release of Monday’s timeline is the result of an IARP rule change, adopted in early August, that was created to bring more transparency to the process.

Kelly Hoffman, IARP spokesperson and senior account director for Indianapolis-based marketing and advertising firm Borshoff, told the Journal-World Monday that details about when a ruling would be made were not available in order “to protect the integrity” of the IARP.

The entries on Monday’s timeline, which are listed chronologically by date, lack specific details and generally include one-sentence documentation of any relevant movement in the case.

The entries cover everything from responses filed by KU or the IARP to dates of general correspondence from both sides and the issuance of a case management plan as well as requests for extensions or clarification on the details within the case.

The first 12 entries, which fall under the heading “Referral Request Process” date back more than a year and provide a look at the steps that led to KU’s case being accepted onto the IARP track.

The next 11 entries fall under the “Case Management Plan Development” heading and they include three entries for correspondence from KU or Head Men’s Basketball Coach Counsel, along with responses to that correspondence, a proposal for scheduling deadlines on March 17 and the issuing of a Case Management Plan on April 1.

Given the fact that the IARP has drawn criticism for how long the process has taken in each of the six cases it is currently reviewing, it’s worth noting that there was a five-month gap between entries following a response from the IARP’s Infractions Referral Committee on Sept. 16, 2020 and Correspondence from Kansas on Feb. 21, 2021.

It has been reported in the past that the COVID-19 pandemic played a role in slowing down the process. That five-month gap of inactivity is by far the longest in KU’s case.

The remaining 29 entries fall under the heading “Investigation” and the most notable of those appears to be correspondence from KU and legal counsel for head coach Bill Self in May regarding the “appearance of a conflict of interest.” No further details were given and the IARP’s Complex Case Unit responded to those inquiries within a week.

According to the timeline, on Aug. 9, the chief panel member issued the first of two amended case management plans. Amended case management plan No. 2 was issued two weeks later on Aug. 23.

During that same time frame, the timeline outlines correspondence from Self regarding recusal, which is defined as the withdrawal of a judge, prosecutor or juror from a case on the grounds that they are unqualified to perform legal duties because of a possible conflict of interest or lack of impartiality.

Eight days later, the Complex Case Unit responded to the recusal correspondence. No further details were provided.

The most recent entry on the timeline — dated Aug. 30, 2021 — notes that the CCU submitted a response regarding additional clarity and position regarding investigative matters.

It is not yet known when, or if, the existing timeline will be updated again.

Hoffman told the Journal-World that the timelines released Monday include “key procedural actions in the lifecycle of the case after they have occurred, showing where they are in the process.”

“Once a decision has been made, information will be publicly released,” Hoffman added.

In addition, according to NCAA Bylaw 19.01.4, institutions and involved parties, including any representative or counsel, may not comment on the details or substance of any pending infractions cases.

All rulings by the IARP are final and not subject to appeal, which is different from rulings handed down by the more traditional NCAA Committee on Infractions.

None of the six cases that are on the IARP track have reached resolution. KU became the third school to enter the IARP path, behind Memphis and North Carolina State and ahead of LSU, Arizona and Louisville.

The NCAA’s case against KU, which includes allegations of five Level 1 infractions, a charge of head coach responsibility and a tag of lack of institutional control, was accepted by the IARP on July 1, 2020.