PITINO TELLS CALIPARI: ‘ I’VE GOT TO BE ACCOUNTABLE’
Louisville coach Rick Pitino said he “must be accountable” for recent alleged NCAA violations against the basketball program during an interview on rival John Calipari’s podcast.
“You like to think your players are going to do the right things, and certainly we want the responsibility. We want the accountability, but we can’t be the scapegoats for society today,” Pitino said.
The NCAA charged the University of Louisville with four Level I violations in October, including citing Pitino for failure to monitor an employee.
The allegations stemmed from claims in self- described escort Katina Powell’s book, Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball
and the Escort Queen. Powell said former Louisville basketball staffer Andre McGee paid her and other women thousands of dollars and gave them game tickets in exchange for having sex and dancing with players and recruits.
“I went through it, and it would be the furthest thing that I would ever, ever see,” Pitino said. “I just named all those assistant coaches. If I have 29 that went on to great prosperity and are doing a good job, I have one that went the wrong way. Well, I’ve got to be accountable for that one person and feel very saddened that he did the wrong things.
“That being said, there are certain things that we can’t control in our lives. This is a college atmosphere right now, and certain things we are not in control of. We’re in control if they go to class, they tell the truth, they do the right things, they listen to us, they’re early, they’re obedient in practice, they create discipline in their lives, but there are certain things we can’t control, as a parent as well as a basketball coach.”
Louisville self- imposed sanctions, including removing itself from the Atlantic Coast Conference and NCAA tournaments last season, and implemented recruiting restrictions. Additional penalties won’t be announced until after it goes before the NCAA.
Louisville ( 15- 3, 3- 2), No. 11 in the country, defeated Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats 73- 70 last month.
“As a college coach, when we get a call, the phone rings at midnight, you get sick to your stomach,” Calipari said. “People don’t realize we’re dealing with people’s children. As an NBA coach, if you get a call at midnight, like it’s a wrong number. And what we’re trying to do and how we’re trying to do it, I mean, I agree with you and I’ve said it all along, if a coach has done something, OK. But to the black eye of vacated games and all the other stuff ... I just think you’re right, and my hope is as we go forward as coaches together, ( with) our community of coaches who do care.”