Louisville ban stuns Pitino

School president announces a one- year postseason penalty amid investigation into sex scandal.

Louisville announced a one- year postseason ban Friday for the Cardinals’ 19th- ranked men’s basketball team amid ongoing investigations into a sex scandal, a decision that stunned Coach Rick Pitino

University 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 former Louisville staffer paid her and other dancers to strip and have sex with recruits and players.

Ramsey said the ban is for all postseason tournaments for this season, including the NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference tournaments.

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 said that he was “a soldier in this army” and he would “do what the generals say” but called the penalty “as harsh as anything I’ve seen in college basketball.”

Nevada Las Vegas junior guard Daquan Cook has been dismissed from the team. Interim Coach Todd Simon gave no reason for the decision. Cook was suspended for 13 games by previous coach Dave Rice in November after being arrested and charged with drunk driving.