Louisville should consider legal action, Pitino says

Ex-Cardinals coach responds to loss of 2013 national title.

Former Louisville coach Rick Pitino believes the school should consider taking legal action against the NCAA after the governing body ordered the vacation of the Cardinals’ 2013 men’s basketball champion as part of 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 revenues. 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. But Pitino said once again that he did not know anything about the sex shows. Asked about legal action, Pitino said Louisville’s Board of Trustees should consider it. “I don’t know if this Board of Trustees will do that,” he said, “but they should.”

The sex scandal was not the reason Louisville fired Pitino, who has sued over his dismissal. The school fired him in October after acknowledging the university was being investigated for allegations that the family of former recruit Brian Bowen was bribed.

Top 25

(At) No. 1 Virginia 65, Georgia Tech 54: Ty Jerome scored 18 and the Cavs (252, 14-1) beat the Yellow Jackets (11-17, 4-11), clinching the regular-season title and top seed in the ACC Tournament. Ben Lammers scored 22 as Tech lost its sixth in a row.

No. 3 Villanova vs. DePaul: Late

No. 4 Xavier 89, (at) Georgetown 77: Naji Marshall scored a career-high 21 and the Musketeers (25-4, 13-3 Big East) bounced back from a loss to No. 3 Villanova, beating Georgetown (15-11, 5-10).

No. 5 Duke vs. Louisville: Late

No. 6 Texas Tech at Oklahoma State: Late

No. 10 North Carolina at Syracuse: Late

No. 12 Auburn vs. Alabama: Late

No. 13 Wichita State vs. Tulane: Late

No. 15 Clemson at Virginia Tech: Late

No. 17 Michigan at Penn State: Late

No. 19 Tennessee vs. Florida: Late

No. 20 Nevada vs. San Jose State: Late

SETH WENIG / AP Ex-Louisville coach Rick Pitino, talking to reporters Wednesday at a news conference in New York, said the NCAA punishment of the Cardinals is unfair.