Louisville must vacate 2013 title
Louisville officials are not happy with the NCAA’s decision that mandates the school vacate its 2013 championship in the wake of an embarrassing sex scandal, and interim President Greg Postel did not hide his disappointment.
While acknowledging the scandal was unacceptable, Postel believes the school’s cooperation should have counted for more than it did. But Tuesday, Louisville announced that an NCAA appeals panel had upheld sanctions against the program. As a result, the Cardinals have to vacate not only the championship but 122 other wins and return some $600,000 in conference revenue from the 201215 NCAA tournaments.
“I cannot say this strongly enough: We believe the NCAA is simply wrong,” Postel said. “We disagree with the NCAA ruling for reasons we clearly stated in our appeal. And we made a strong case — based on NCAA precedent — that supported our argument.”
Louisville now must forfeit its third NCAA title, victories and income from 2011-15, part of the time frame during which the violations occurred.
Miles Bridges scored 19 points and Joshua Langford added 16 as No. 2 Michigan State (27-3, 15-2) pulled away from Illinois for an 81-61 victory to clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title. The Spartans, who shot 47.1 percent from the field and hit 11 3-pointers, led 38-35 at halftime . ... C.J. Jackson scored 18 points to help No. 16 Ohio State (23-7, 14-3 Big Ten) rout visiting Rutgers 79-52. Kaleb Wesson added 14, and Kam Williams, playing his last home game, had 13 . ... Jeff Dowtin scored 25 points as No. 18 Rhode Island (22-4, 14-1 Atlantic-10) held off host La Salle 95-93 in overtime.
Reserve point guard Terrence Phillips is no longer on the Missouri roster.
Phillips had been indefinitely suspended from the team since January and is under Title IX investigation by the university following complaints from at least four women, some of whom have made reports of harassment, physical abuse or the filming of a sexual encounter without consent, sources told The Kansas City Star. News services