Pitino: Louisville needs to fight

Former Louisville coach Rick Pitino believes the school should consider taking legal action against the NCAA after it ordered the Cardinals’ 2013 men’s basketball championship vacated as part of the sanctions for a sex scandal.

Louisville announced Tuesday that the NCAA had denied its appeal of sanctions that included vacating 123 victories and the return of about $600,000 in conference revenue from the 2012-15 NCAA tournaments. The school later removed banners of the 2013 championship and 2012 Final Four appearance.

Pitino said Wednesday from his attorney’s offices in New York that the NCAA’s decision was unfair. The former coach did take responsibility for assistant coaching hires such as Andre McGee, who an escort said hired her and other dancers for sex parties on campus with players and recruits, which led to the NCAA investigation.

But Pitino said again he didn’t know anything about the sex shows that took place in the dorms. Asked about legal action, he said he was defenseless in this instance but that Louisville’s Board of Trustees should consider legal action.

“I don’t know if this board will do that, but they should because the players deserve it,” Pitino said.

Pitino also issued a statement saying he was cooperating with federal authorities in their investigation of corruption in the sport.

USC player leaving: Suspended USC sophomore guard De’Anthony Melton announced he will withdraw from the university and focus on preparing for professional basketball.

Melton has not suited up this season after an eligibility issue surfaced when an FBI investigation concluded former Trojans assistant Tony Bland was one of four college basketball assistants accepting bribes to steer players toward agents, financial advisers and apparel companies. Bagley out again: Duke freshman forward Marvin Bagley III missed his fourth straight game when he sat out Wednesday night against Louisville while he continues to recover from a mild right knee sprain.