The college basketball season continued along the road to the Final Four without a hitch this weekend -- but the road ahead may be a bumpy one.

The Black Coaches Association, after meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus on Friday, decided to postpone its threatened boycott of games this weekend.

The BCA threatened to boycott after the NCAA voted against restoring a scholarship to basketball teams at the NCAA convention last Tuesday, and broke off talks with the NCAA on Wednesday.

CBC Chairman, Cong. Kweisi Mfume (D.-Md), informed BCA Executive Director Rudy Washington that the Justice Department was prepared to "intervene" and act as an arbitrator in the BCA's dispute with the NCAA, although he did not disclose the details of the plan.

However, Washington and the BCA have not altogether abandoned plans for a boycott, which he said could again become an option if the talks with the NCAA do not progress toward an acceptable solution.

"If we can't come to some kind of terms, I'm really afraid of the season itself," Washington said. "We're reasonable men, and I think the NCAA is reasonable. But again, we were made promises that weren't kept."

Washington said that the BCA "thought we had a deal" with the NCAA concerning the restoration of the 14th scholarship, which it feels will primarily affect minority athletes.

The Big Ten, with three black head coaches, could be directly affected by a BCA boycott.

"We as coaches, both black and white, are in agreement that sooner or later we will boycott," Minnesota Coach Clem Haskins said on Friday. "At this time, we have not decided when, what game or where the boycott will take place."

Mfume said that the NCAA is trying to reduce the debate to the single issue of restoring the scholarship, adding that the CBC and the BCA have an extensive agenda of issues, including:

-- Academic standards for eligibility and testing biases

-- Limited access of coaches to student athletes

-- Absence of diversity in the coaching ranks and teaching facilities on campus

-- Minority opportunities within the NCAA

-- Gender equity within athletic and scholarship programs and faculty

-- Reduction of scholarship and its impact on low-income student athletes

Mfume agreed with Washington that a boycott has not been eliminated as a future option for the BCA.

"It is our belief that this action is in the best interest of the young men and women who give their energies and committment to athletic and academic excellence," Mfume said. "But we will not wait forever for change."

The National Asssociation of Basketball Coaches, representing coaches in NCAA Divisions I, II and III, announced its support on Friday of the BCA's decision to postpone any possible boycott.

NABC President George Blaney said, "We are thankful that the boycott has been postponed and as a result, this is a window of opportunity to bring together all the appropriate parties necessary to talk and develop unity of purpose to address minority issues, academic issues, and access issues."

Mfume said that the BCA and the CBC will attempt to work through their problems with the NCAA this week with the help of the Justice Department.