Louisville Just Got Slammed

The NCAA decided to actually punish Louisville for its paid escort scandal today, and the results are pretty bad and could get worse. As of now, coach Rick Pitino is suspended for 5 ACC games next year, games from 2010-2014 could wind up being vacated, including the 2012 Final Four appearance and the 2013 National Championship, and Louisville loses multiple scholarships over the next four seasons while it's on probation. 

Here's why this especially sucks for Louisville. THEY ALREADY PUNISHED THEMSELVES. In the 2015-16 season, Louisville self-imposed a one-year postseason ban because of this issue, and the NCAA still dropped the hammer down on them today. Honestly, Louisville deserves this ruling. Not because of the whole prostitutes for recruits thing (okay, maybe for that too), but because they were just stupid. By banning themselves from postseason play in 2016, they basically admitted guilt, causing the NCAA to investigate even further. Louisville would have probably gotten the same punishment from the NCAA regardless of whether they banned themselves or not. 

I think the NCAA wanted to make an example of Louisville, which is scary considering the ongoing North Carolina fake classes investigation. People are acting like this UNC thing is the worst thing since unsliced bread, so it will be interesting to see what happens to them. Back to the Cardinals, they have already said that they are appealing all the punishments handed down by the NCAA. It's a smart move by them considering what may happen as a result of the sanctions standing. After all this, there is only one thing of which I am certain. This isn't over.