From [HERE] and [HERE] A study released Monday shows growing disparity between graduation rates for white and black players at schools in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

An annual report by the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport found a 2 percent overall graduation rate increase, to 66 percent, but showed the rates for white players with a greater increase.

White players show a 91 percent graduation rate, which is up 7 percent. Black players have a graduation rate of 59 percent, up 3 percent from last year’s study. This is the third straight year the gap has grown.

Richard Lapchick, the institute director and primary author of the study, said the gap makes it hard to celebrate the overall progress.