Louisville coach Rick Pitino speaks to the media after allegations that a former director of basketball operations paid an escort service to provide sex to Cardinals recruits. Louisville Cardinals men's basketball coach Rick Pitino, despite an author's claim otherwise, again denied any knowledge Monday that former director of basketball operations Andre McGee allegedly paid an escort service to provide sex for recruits.
Not one person knew anything about it. Pitino added that the university, in conjunction with attorney Chuck Smrt, is in the process of interviewing former players and staff members and has been in contact with the NCAA.
University police chief Wayne Hall said Tuesday in a brief statement that his department is working with Louisville Metro Police and the Commonwealth Attorney's Office to review Powell's allegations against the program.
Powell told IBJ. I think he did whatever he had to do to make the University of Louisville a great team. He found something that worked and went with it. Under the current NCAA rule structure, head coaches can be held accountable for what goes on with their programs, whether they are directly implicated or not. Duncan, while unable to speak to the specifics of the Louisville case, spoke more broadly about the challenges the NCAA may face while investigating.
A written document -- whether it be a published book, news article or message board -- is not taken at face value by the NCAA. Rather, it's a starting point that needs to be verified by NCAA investigators. But what often happens, he said, is a public record which includes people's names makes it more difficult to conduct the separate NCAA investigation. The NCAA can compel only people affiliated with member institutions -- staff members, coaches or current or prospective student-athletes -- to speak.
