Louisville invokes postseason ban

The University of Louisville’s president announced a one-year postseason ban Friday for its men’s basketball team amid ongoing investigations into a sex scandal, a decision that stunned coach Rick Pitino.

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, including the NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference tournaments. The president said he received the latest results of the investigation Thursday, but noted the review of the allegations is continuing.

“We found out yesterday that we had a problem,” said Athletic Director Tom Jurich, adding that university wanted to deal with the findings as quickly as possible.

“This is a punishment I never thought would have happened this season,” Pitino said. “This is as harsh as anything I’ve ever seen in college basketball.”

The Cardinals (18-4, 7-2 ACC) currently are ranked No. 19 and would have been a lock for an NCAA Tournament berth.

Southern Cal: Athletic Director Pat Haden will retire June 30, ending his guidance of the Trojans through a tumultuous period in the school’s history. Haden has run USC’s athletic department for 51/2 years, taking over from Mike Garrett in 2010 with a primary mandate to lead the Trojans through a multiyear stretch of NCAA sanctions against its vaunted football program. Haden, 63, also persevered through recent health problems and the ongoing saga of football coach Steve Sarkisian’s firing.