By Russ Brown
NKyTribune correspondent
LOUISVILLE — University of Louisville officials are trying to clear up confusion about the role of its president and a committee in self-imposing a controversial ban on postseason play for its men’s basketball team.
After a member of UofL’s investigative committee told the Louisville Courier-Journal that he disagreed with the ban, UofL issued a statement Tuesday, marking the first time any official has spoken publicly about details of the six-person committee looking into allegations of stripper and sex parties for players and recruits.
Professor Ricky Jones, chair of the Pan African Studies Department and a member of the committee, told the C-J there was no vote on the matter and that President James Ramsey made the decision himself.
That is in contrast to what UofL coach Rick Pitino said recently on at least two occasions — on a national ESPN radio show and in his press conference following the Boston College game on Feb. 6 when he emphasized that athletic director Tom Jurich made the call and Ramsey okayed it.
“Please nobody blame Dr. Ramsey,” Pitino said at the time. “Tom Jurich made this decision, not Dr. Ramsey. Dr. Ramsey had to okay it. . .he could have vetoed it.”
However, the university’s statement reiterated that Ramsey made the decision, as the original announcement had stated. The school also said that Jones hadn’t even attended the Feb. 5 meeting where the ban was discussed.
“At President Ramsey’s request, the UofL Investigative Committee met on Friday morning (Feb. 5) to allow Chuck Smrt, our investigator who is working in coordination with the NCAA, to brief the committee members regarding the results of the inquiry to date,” said the statement from spokesman John Karman.
“Professor Jones was unable to attend because of another commitment.”
The statement did confirm Jones’ contention that the committee didn’t vote on imposing the ban.
“The committee’s role is to serve in an advisory capacity to the President, but there is no custom or requirement that the President’s decisions are subject to a vote of the committee or its acquiescence,” the statement said. “Institutionally, the President has the responsibility for any decisions regarding this matter.
“The role of an institutional investigative committee is to advise the President throughout the inquiry process. According to customary preocedures, the President has authority for making decisions throughout the investigative period, often consulting the Athletic Director on corrective and punitive action.”
Jones told the C-J there was no evidence presented that implicated anyone other than former director of basketball operations Andre McGee, who escort queen Katina Powell alleges paid her $10,000 over a four-year period. He also said there was no evidence that anyone else knew that money was being paid to Powell.
Jones said he opposes the ban because he feels it was unfair to punish players on the current roster who were not involved in the allegations.
Other members of the committee are Ramsey; Elaine Wise, professor and chair of the division of humanities; Jerry Tolson, professor of Jazz Studies and Music Education; general counsel Leslie Strohm; and John Carns, senior athletic director for compliance.
Mahmoud will miss remainder of season with ankle injury
University of Louisville forward/center Anas Mahmoud will miss the remainder of the Cardinals’ 2015-16 season after suffering a right ankle sprain in practice Monday.
Mahmoud stepped on another player’s foot to cause the sprain. An x-ray taken at Jewish Hospital was negative for a break. With an estimated 3-6 weeks recovery time, he will miss the Cardinals’ six remaining games. He will be in a boot and on crutches for the immediate future.
A sophomore from Cairo, Egypt, Mahmoud has averaged 3.2 points and 3.0 rebounds this season with 29 blocked shots, averaging 14 minutes a game during the Cardinals’ ACC games. He has blocked three shots in three of the last seven games. Mahmoud scored a career-high 15 points at Georgia Tech in January.