OK investigating assistant's calls

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma's athletic department has found itself in an unwanted situation that's all too familiar: shipping a basketball coach's phone records to NCAA investigators.

The university acknowledged Wednesday that it was investigating phone calls made by former basketball assistant Oronde Taliaferro to determine whether he had committed any NCAA violations. In a statement, the school indicated that Taliaferro had made calls to a Merrill Lynch representative in Florida and the content of those calls was under review.

Oklahoma claims Taliaferro did not break NCAA rules by simply making the calls. The school's investigation started after a TMZ.com report that former player Keith "Tiny" Gallon had received a wire transfer from a Merrill Lynch representative.

The Sooners remain under NCAA probation until Sunday for major violations committed under former basketball coach Kelvin Sampson and by the football program. The NCAA found that Sampson and his staff made more than 550 impermissible recruiting calls between 2000 and 2004.