By Russ Brown
Special to NKyTribune
LOUISVILLE — The day after the basketball sex scandal broke at the University of Louisville on Oct. 2, coach Rick Pitino answered a few questions about it following the Cardinals’ first Red-White intrasquad game.
Then he shut down the subject, saying he wasn’t going to talk about it any more because he had been asked by university officials to keep mum while the NCAA and school investigations were ongoing.
Since then, however, Pitino has opened up even more, appearing on sports radio talk shows and showing no reluctance to discuss the subject. And he continued that trend Tuesday, with his latest remarks coming during a 20-minute talk at the UofL Tipoff Luncheon.
Speaking to an enthusiastic sold-out crowd of about 1,200 that gave him two standing ovations at the downtown Mariott, Pitino took only about three minutes before he began talking about the scandal.
In the book, “Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen,” Katina Powell alleges that she arranged strippers and sex for UofL recruits and players from 2010-14 at the behest of then-UofL staffer and former player Andre McGee, who she alleges paid about $10,000 for the parties.
Pitino, who coughed occasionally and said he is suffering from walking pneumonia, said he was puzzled as to why any improprieties might have occurred.
“It was like a knife going through you,” Pitino said. “I know the whys from the other end. What I don’t know is the ‘why’ from our end. Still can’t figure it out, no matter how much sleep I get, no matter how much my mind wanders at night. Still doesn’t make any sense.”
Pitino said the allegations hit the program “like a bombshell”, and added that he and UofL are intent on finding out if Powell’s charges are true.
“I do know this,” Pitino said. “If there was any wrongdoing — it’s a big ‘if’ — people have to pay for their crimes. If it happens, we will own up to it and do the best we can under adverse conditions.
“I hope the ‘ifs’ are not true. We will find the truth, whatever that may be, and people will pay the price for any wrongdoing that may have occurred.”
Pitino also defended his 41-year coaching record regarding NCAA rules, saying he can look in the mirror and know he has done things the right way.
“As far as the NCAA rules, I know what I’m about,” Pitino said. “Every coach who has sat next to me always knew what I was about as far as NCAA rules are concerned. Every living room I’ve visited of every recruit knew exactly where I stood with the rules of the NCAA. Every player I’ve ever coached knew exactly where I stand.
“That one-day contract and the ability to look in the mirror and feel good about yourself from 41 years of coaching? I feel great about myself. So we will get through this the right way. And whatever sits upon us, we will find out with the right people investigating. I feel down now, not to lie to you. But like I told my team the other day, ‘Hey guys, I’m down. But every time I step between the lines, you lift me up.'”
Pitino also referred to a recent interview with his friend, WHAS Radio personality Terry Meiners, whose first question was if Pitino was planning to resign. At the time, he bristled at the query.
“First of all, the only comment I’ve made is that I know nothing about any of this,” he told Meiners. “So I don’t know what resigning would accomplish. I think that’s the cowardly way out. What does it do for the program if the head coach just runs away? I don’t understand why you asked me that.”
At the luncheon, Pitino said he felt like he was “blindsided,” but holds no animosity toward Meiners.
“His job is not to build me up in that moment,” Pitino said. “His job is to get the truth.”
Pitino ended his talk by thanking the fans for their “support and friendship.”
Pitino has also gotten support from former players — including Luke Hancock, Stephen VanTreese and Terrence Williams — former assistant coach and current Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin, and current assistant Ralph Willard. All have said that Pitino has always followed NCAA rules and they are confident he wasn’t aware of any possible violations.
Pitino didn’t take any questions from the media after the event and said he was skipping Media Day — which hasn’t been set — to avoid addressing the subject again. UofL athletics director Tom Jurich, who always speaks during the Tipoff Luncheon, attended but didn’t address the crowd.
Willard to take leave of absence
According to an athletic’s department release, men’s basketball assistant coach Ralph Willard will take a medical leave of absence to attend to a health issue.
Willard, who re-joined Pitino’s staff in April, has been advised by doctors to back away from his coaching duties to address his medical condition. There is no timetable on the length of his departure.
David Padgett, UofL’s Director of Basketball Operations since April 2014, will move into an assistant coaching position while still managing the operations role.
“Ralph is one of the game’s great teachers and one of my closest friends in life,” said Pitino. “My only concern right now is that he gets healthy and has a speedy recovery from some problems that need immediate attention. We are seeking the best doctors available to assess his situation.
“David knows the system as well as anyone here. He’s played it and is more than capable of stepping in while Ralph is away. I expect it to be a smooth transition.”
“I’m very disappointed that this has happened,” said Willard. “I’m confident that I’m getting the best medical advice to alleviate or correct this situation. Having the opportunity to work with this group all summer has been a tremendously satisfying experience. These young men have been maturing well physically and mentally. I’m looking forward to getting back at the appropriate time.”
Russ Brown has covered University of Louisville athletics for over 30 years, including 15 for The Courier-Journal in Louisville. He is senior writer/editor for the Louisville SportsReport, which he helped found, and also writes for Cardinalsports.com.