Earlier in the week, Larry Brown's SMU Mustangs were disciplined for multiple violations, including academic fraud and unethical conduct, and will be banned from postseason play this season. Is Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals bound to join them?
Friday evening, the University of Louisville and the NCAA announced they will look into allegations spurred from a book to-be-published titled "Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen."
The publication is centered around Katina Powell, a woman who was repeatedly hired by former Louisville player, graduate assistant, and director of basketball operations Andre McGee to supply strippers and prostitutes for recruits as well as those on the team. In the book, Powell reveals that she and her three daughters, in addition to other women, participated in sexual acts for a whopping 22 parties between 2010 and 2014 at players' dorms.
But, why is all this information coming out now? Obviously, money is involved.
The 43-year old told IBJ Book Publishing LLC that she is doing the book to make money (receives 10 percent of sales). Furthermore, Powell said "I decided to write the book to tell my story and to let people know what goes on inside of college basketball ... and how they get their new recruits. It's important for people to know ... how young kids are persuaded to do certain things by sex, drugs and alcohol."
This evening in a press conference, head coach Rick Pitino commented "To say I'm shocked is an understatement. You know the allegations. Now we have to find the truth."
While the investigation runs it course, McGee, who is now an assistant coach at UMKC (University of Missouri-Kansas City), has been placed on administrative leave with pay.
The 2015 Elite Eight squad is scheduled to face-off against Samford on November 13 at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville.