Report: Louisville expected to avoid major NCAA punishment in Rick Pitino, Chris Mack case

After almost half a decade, Louisville is about to find out the results of the FBI probe that changed the course of their men’s basketball program.

According to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, the fate of the Cardinals isn’t going to be as dire as once believed.

“BREAKING: Louisville dodges major punishments in IARP case, @CBSSports has learned,” tweeted Norlander. “No postseason ban, $5,000 fine, small reduction in recruiting days and two years of probation.

“Rick Pitino, Chris Mack avoid punishment entirely. Decision will be made public later this AM.”

The decision will be made public later Thursday morning, where Louisville will officially look to put a long infestation behind them, hoping to rebuild their brand.

Regardless, there’s no appeal process for the NCAA’s Independent Accountability Resolution Process, so the result of the investigation is final.

More on Louisville Cardinals, IARP case

Moreover, the situation goes back to when the Cardinals were forced to clean house in 2017, following alleged infractions during the “pay to play” scandal that was uncovered by the FBI.

The straw that broke the camel’s back for the aforementioned Pitino, athletic director Tom Jurich and assistant basketball coaches Jordan Fair and Kenny Johnson was when the FBI unsealed the indictments in the case, which led to Louisville signee Brian Bowen immediately being suspended by the school. According to the indictment, several adidas executives allegedly funneled money to Bowen’s family for him to join the Cardinals.

After Pitino was replaced by Chris Mack and Louisville attempted to rebuild their brand, the latter was hit with some violations as well, including using graduate assistants for on-court activities and “producing and showing, playing or providing personalized recruiting videos and recruiting aids to basketball prospects containing the recruits’ names, pictures and/or likenesses,” per the Louisville Courier Journal.

Now, after years of wondering what the final punishment would be, Louisville has to be elated to learn they’ve avoided a major disciplinary action. Moving forward, the Cardinals will look to return to the forefront of the college basketball world under new head coach Kenny Payne.