The Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball program eluded major sanctions on Wednesday. First reported by CBS Sports‘ Matt Norlander, the Cardinals dodged a postseason ban or other major sanctions:
BREAKING: Louisville dodges major punishments in IARP case, @CBSSports has learned. No postseason ban, $5,000 fine, small reduction in recruiting days and two years of probation. Rick Pitino, Chris Mack avoid punishment entirely.
Decision will be made public later this AM.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) November 3, 2022
“Louisville dodges major punishments in IARP case, CBS Sports has learned. No postseason ban, $5,000 fine, small reduction in recruiting days, and two years of probation,” wrote Norlander in a tweet on Wednesday morning.
The ruling comes after a lengthy process totaling about five years. This dates back to when Rick Pitino was the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals and their recruitment of former five-star recruit, Brian Bowen. Chris Mack got caught in the web as well after taking the job following Pitino’s dismissal from the program. Pitino and Mack avoided any punishment or sanctions themselves. Former assistant Kenny Johnson was hit with a show cause, but it will only impact him on the recruiting trail.
Reactions poured in from the world of college basketball after, including Pitino, who addressed the media on Wednesday afternoon. One particular reaction from Pitino wasn’t so favorable. Especially since the NCAA’s IARP is dissolving as soon as the remaining cases conclude.
Rick Pitino: “The IARP is apparently going away and I’m very disappointed in that.” He says this process was handled much more professionally. He’s explaining how strict he says he is when it comes to compliance.
— Tyler Greever (@Tyler_Greever) November 3, 2022
Elsewhere, some are asking questions bout the process itself here, the rulings, and where things could be going in the future. And also, some mocking of previous discourse:
If the IARP concluded in the Louisville case adidas was marketing agent, in for its own interests, then what has the SNDY, NCAA and IARP been doing since 2017? You may not like it, but the IARP just said it out loud.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) November 3, 2022
the funny thing is, two Louisville assistant coaches got show cause penalties, the IARP just arbitrarily decided that we're done holding schools accountable for the actions of their highest-paid employees
— Weapons formed did in fact prosper (@anchorofgold) November 3, 2022
Multiple coaches involved so naturally the NCAA dropped the hammer with a $5000 fine 😹 https://t.co/kZXVAeFqBO
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) November 3, 2022
Mizzou got banned from the postseason for a rogue tutor btw. https://t.co/cqZTW39hE5
— Payton J. Havermann (@paytonisnotroll) November 3, 2022
This would be good news for Xavier if NCAA punishments followed any discernible pattern beyond not punishing big brand schools. https://t.co/aUjDJtgGfj
— Banners on the Parkway (@BannersParkway) November 3, 2022
Whew, yeah. That silly and always pointless FBI investigation really ruined both college basketball and the University of Louisville. How will the Cardinals ever recover? Will the sport ever be the same? https://t.co/4veMIXL7CM
— Mo Egger (@MoEgger) November 3, 2022
