The UConn mess, cont'd

SPORTING GOODS

While "no taxpayer money or student tuition monies [are] involved. All of these bills are being paid through self-generated funds by the athletic department," it's nevertheless the case that

The University of Connecticut has asked state officials to more than double the amount it will pay a Kansas City law firm to defend the school against an ongoing NCAA investigation into the men's basketball team.

The state Office of Policy and Management has agreed to allow UConn to spend an additional $375,000 to pay Bond, Schoeneck & King of Kansas City. The original contract with the law firm, first approved by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's office, called for a three-year contract capped at $300,000.

But state records show that UConn overspent that amount in a one-year period between April 2009 and April 2010, when more than $338,000 in legal bills were paid.

It's certainly true that the money will be reimbursed, but it's also the case—which the university is ignoring—that this three-quarters of a million dollars could be used for scholarships for needy (non-athletic) students.

And the bill is only going to get larger as the NCAA investigation into the school's recruitment of Nate Miles and the program's ties to former UConn team manager-turned-agent Josh Nochimson continues.

Oh, and it goes without saying that St. Jim has received a five-year extension on his contract in the midst of all this.

UPDATE — Colin McEnroe weighs in on the issue.