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NCAA rules Hawaii eligible for 2017 postseason

Diamond Head Classic - Southern Mississippi v Hawaii

HONOLULU, HI - DECEMBER 25: Brocke Stepteau #2 of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors drives to the basket during the first half of the Diamond Head Classic NCAA college basketball game against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles at Stan Sheriff Center on December 25, 2016 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)

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Hawaii will be eligible to participate in the 2017 postseason following an announcement from the NCAA late this week.

Originally banned from postseason play in 2017 from a committee on infractions ruling in 2015, the Rainbow Warriors will now be able to defend its Big West Conference Tournament title after they won the event and advanced to the NCAA tournament last season.

The Rainbow Warriors replaced all five starters from last season’s team that upset Cal in the first round and advanced to the Round of 32 but they are 14-14 entering their regular-season finale on Saturday as their season gets a new life.

Besides being allowed back in the postseason, the school’s probationary period has been reduced from three years to two and will now end in Dec. 2017. The school’s scholarship penalty of two per year was also reduced to one the next two years.