The NCAA released its Academic Progress Rate report on Wednesday, with all LSU teams avoiding penalties. The APR, as defined by the NCAA, is a “measure of eligibility and retention for Division I student-athletes that was developed as an early indicator of eventual graduation rates.” This year’s numbers measured averages from a four-year period beginning in Fall of 2007. Women’s cross country led the way for all teams with a perfect score of 1,000 and was honored by the NCAA for its successes. Men’s and women’s golf were close behind with a 994 and 993, respectively. Teams must score above 900 to avoid any scholarship reductions or postseason bans, but NCAA president Mark Emmert said the base score will continue to be raised. “We now have changed our eligibility requirements for postseason play in all of our Division I sports to require that all teams have post-season APRs at a target of 930, with a phase in that begins this coming year at 900, the following year at 900 and then moves up to 930,” Emmert said. While the Tigers and Lady Tigers avoided any postseason bans, some to programs were not as lucky. Toledo and Connecticut were banned from the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, joining 24 other schools and 33 other teams that drew some sort of penalty. The Tigers improved their APR rate in men’s basketball and baseball, while football suffered a slight drop to 964. Men’s basketball and men’s cross country boasted the lowest scores out of all the teams, both with a 911. “We’ve seen some increases of a number of percentage points in men’s basketball, football and baseball – areas that we’ve been placing particular emphasis on,” Emmert said. Along with men’s and women’s golf and women’s cross country, six other programs had scores above 980, with men’s tennis and women’s soccer falling only a few points short. While the Tigers and Lady Tigers avoided any postseason bans, some to programs were not as lucky. Toledo and Connecticut were banned from the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, joining 24 other schools and 33 other teams that drew some sort of penalty. The Tigers improved their APR rate in men’s basketball and baseball, while football suffered a slight drop to 964. Men’s basketball and men’s cross country boasted the lowest scores out of all the teams, both with a 911. “We’ve seen some increases of a number of percentage points in men’s basketball, football and baseball- areas that we’ve been placing particular emphasis on,” Emmert said. Along with men’s and women’s golf and women’s cross country, six other programs had scores above 980, with men’s tennis and women’s soccer falling only a few points short. 
 
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