LOUISVILLE, — The president of Louisville announced a one-year postseason ban Friday for the Cardinals men’s basketball team amid ongoing investigations into a sex scandal, a decision that stunned coach Rick Pitino.
President James Ramsey said at a news conference that an investigation revealed violations did occur when the school reviewed allegations by an escort that a formerLouisville staffer paid her and other dancers to strip and have sex with recruits and players.
Ramsey said the ban is for all postseason tournaments, including the NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference tournaments. The president said he received the latest results of the investigation on Thursday, but noted the review of the allegations is continuing.
“We found out yesterday that we had a problem,” said athletic director Tom Jurich, adding that university wanted to deal with the findings as quickly as possible.
While it is unclear if Louisville will implement additional self-imposed penalties if its investigation uncovers more violations, the NCAA could hit the men’s program with more sanctions.
Pitino was not consulted about the decision but the coach said he was “a soldier in this army, and I do what the generals say.”
That does not mean he agreed with the move.
“This is a punishment I never thought would have happened this season,” said Pitino, who also attended the news conference with Ramsey, Jurich and former NCAA investigator Chuck Smrt. “This is as harsh as anything I’ve ever seen in college basketball.”
The Cardinals (18-4, 7-2 ACC) are currently are ranked No. 19 and scheduled to play Boston College on Saturday. They would have been a lock for a tournament berth if they had not won the league title.
The 63-year-old Pitino has denied knowledge of allegations in a book by Katina Powell that former director of men’s basketball operations Andre McGee paid $10,000 for 22 shows performed by her and other strippers, including three of her daughters.
Powell’s allegations in her tell-all book rocked the Louisville community and led to four separate investigations into Pitino’s program.
Louisville notified the NCAA about the allegations in late August and immediately launched its own investigation. The athletic department hired Smrt of The Compliance Group to look into the allegations.
Smrt said Friday that the action taken by the university is “a very significant step” considering the investigation is ongoing.
ACC Commissioner John Swofford praised Louisville’s decision, saying Friday in a statement that “removing themselves from any men’s basketball postseason opportunities is both proactive and significant. … We fully support their decision.”
Pitino said he informed his players of the university’s decision earlier Friday, a moment he described as “painful.” The coach said players hugged and cried, with graduate transfers and leading scorers Damion Lee and Trey Lewis particularly emotional because they came to Louisville this season with high hopes of playing in the NCAA Tournament.
