Jeff Greer of The Courier-Journal is reporting that the University of Louisville will announce a self-imposed postseason ban that will take effect this year for the 2015-16 season. The ban is only for this year in light of the accusations made by Katina Powell that UL had strippers and prostitutes to woo recruits to the program.
The Cardinals are currently 18-4 and are second in the ACC. This a huge blow to a team that had an upset victory over UNC recently and was looking primed for a nice NCAA Tournament run. Now Pitino won't be coaching in the postseason for the first time in what seems like forever.
Athletic Director Tom Jurich said that the school got the verification yesterday from the NCAA and tried to take a pre-emptive step in punishing the Cards rather than letting the NCAA do it.
"We found out yesterday that we had a problem," Jurich said. "If was verified by Chuck and the NCAA. So we want to deal with this in the most rapid way we possibly can."
This is really disheartening for grad transfers Damion Lee and Trey Lewis who are having great seasons and now won't be able to showcase their stuff in the postseason. Pitino said the team hugged and cried with Lee and Lewis after Pitino broke the news to his players on Friday afternoon.