Western Athletic Conference champion Fresno State took a gamble that could end up backfiring by taking itself out of postseason play for this season in the hope that the NCAA won't add on another one-season ban in 2004.

Fresno State's administration shocked the men's basketball team Monday by putting the program on an immediate postseason ban this month, two days after the Bulldogs (20-6, 13-3 in the WAC) had clinched the regular-season title with a win over Nevada.

First-year coach Ray Lopes, the favorite for WAC coach of the year and one of the top three first-year records of any coach this season, wasn't part of the decision process. Fresno State president John Welty made this move in consultation with school attorneys. They all anticipate that the NCAA committee on infractions would look favorable upon the school and not add another postseason ban when it reviews academic fraud violations alleged during the 1999-2000 season.

But the move comes in the final two weeks of the season when the Bulldogs aren't a lock for the Dance. Fresno State still has to play at Tulsa and Rice and the Bulldogs are a bubble team.

If Fresno State loses these games and appears to be a team that wouldn't have made the tournament without the ban, then the committee on infractions might not look at the self-imposed penalty as being strong enough.

The Bulldogs want to play in the WAC tournament, even though they won't be allowed to play in the NCAA Tournament. But sources close to the WAC said the athletic directors voted Monday to prohibit the Bulldogs from participating. The WAC council, made up of the presidents, is expected to hold a teleconference late Tuesday to make a final decision.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson declined comment Monday night. The WAC tournament will be held in Tulsa next week. If Fresno State isn't invited, then there will be one play-in game between the 8th-and 9th-place teams for the last spot in the quarterfinals.

Michigan will be allowed to participate in the Big Ten tournament even though the Wolverines are on a self-imposed one-year postseason ban. But the Big Ten won't have a problem if its automatic berth goes to an ineligible team. The Big Ten has plenty of capable teams that could advance deep in the tournament.

Fresno State was the WAC's best chance at advancing in the tournament and that could cost the league over $1 million in a six-year period for a win in the NCAA tournament. Nevada, Tulsa and Rice were all tied for second at 10-6 and one of them would be the automatic qualifier if the Bulldogs were allowed to play in the tournament and won the event.

The big losers in Monday's decision are the present players. At least at Michigan, the Wolverines knew all season that they couldn't go to the Dance. These players cut down the nets Saturday night at Selland Arena and now have no reward.

"I'm proud of this group and what they've accomplished,'' Lopes said. "You can't take away a conference championship. We'll have rings and banners to show for it.''

Lopes gave the team Monday off to deal with this situation but will return to practice Tuesday before leaving for Tulsa.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.