Black players at the 65 schools selected for the NCAA men's basketball tournament field continue to lag behind white players in graduation rates

KFMB:

The report from the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports determined 38 schools graduated 70 percent of their white athletes, while only 21 graduated that many black players. At 25 schools, the percentage gap was 30 points or greater.

NCAA Division I men's basketball remains the worst among all college sports for graduation rates, the report said. The study examined four classes that entered school between 1995-96 and 1998-99.

Overall in Division I, just 58 percent of male basketball players graduate, compared with 69 percent for male student-athletes overall, according to the study. Seventy-six percent of white basketball players graduated, while just 49 percent of black players did.

The best graduation rates were at Bucknell, Florida, Illinois, Villanova, Davidson, Pacific, Indiana, Washington, Marquette and Xavier. Florida, Illinois, Villanova and Bucknell all graduated 100 percent of their players.

Aside from the racial disparity, study author Richard Lapchick said the trend in increased graduation rates is promising. Also, the report notes that graduation rates for black basketball players remain higher than black students in general.

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