Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino has been suspended for the first 5 ACC games next season following an investigation into a sex scandal in the program. Katina Powell, a self-described former escort, alleged in a book that former Louisville director of basketball operations Andre McGee paid her $10,000 for 22 shows at the dorm from 2010 to 2014.
So Pitino's punishment is lighter - but the overall damage could be greater in the sense that, according to Louisville consultant Chuck Smrt, the school will vacate its 2013 national title unless it wins on appeal.
Head coach Rick Pitino failed to properly monitor his men's basketball program.
But the NCAA announced Thursday that Louisville must vacate all "basketball records in which student-athletes competed while ineligible from December 2010 [to] July 2014".
In her book, "Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen", which was published in October 2015, Powell detailed almost two dozen parties that featured dancers performing sex acts for Cardinals recruits and players from 2010 to 2014 inside Billy Minardi Hall, the on-campus dorm for athletes and other students.
The NCAA says Louisville must provide a written report within 45 days detailing which games were impacted. Vacated victories also could ensnare the Cardinals' trip to the Final Four in 2012, the year before they defeated MI to win the program's third NCAA Tournament championship.
Louisville said Thursday it plans to appeal its own NCAA sanctions, hoping to keep its 2013 championship banner in the rafters.
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The scandal erupted after allegations that former assistant Andre McGee hired strippers to entertain players and recruits.
In the ruling, the NCAA said even though Pitino contended he was not aware of the violations, he was ultimately responsible for McGee's actions. From the infractions report: "Without dispute, the bylaws do not allow institutional staff members to arrange for stripteases and sex acts for prospects, enrolled student-athletes and/or those who accompany them to campus". Pitino admitted to his extramarital affairs, the school chose to retain him as head coach, and in August of 2010 the accuser was found guilty in a federal district court of extortion and lying to federal agents. However, the five-game suspension for him isn't all that stiff, and numerous school's other penalties are just what they self-imposed. The program barred itself from postseason play ban in 2015-16 and later cut two men's basketball scholarships over a three-year period, while also limiting coaches' travel and reducing the number of on-campus recruiting visits.
Additionally, another program assistant received a one-year show cause penalty for not cooperating with investigators.
"The finding against Coach Pitino is one of the weakest I've ever seen against a head coach", Tompsett's statement said. "We believe we will win the appeal".
When Ole Miss responded to the NCAA's notice of allegations earlier this month, the school acknowledged that some violations occurred, but also said that Freeze himself "has met expectations to emphasize (and) promote compliance".
The self-imposed postseason ban that already took place last season. In contrast, he said UofL did cooperate, wanted to uncover what happened, and has been open and transparent throughout the process. "This ruling is also unfair to Coach Pitino, who we believe could not have known about the illicit activities".
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