Louisville Bookies Worried Over NCAA Scandal
Louisville area bookies rely heavily on betting action during the College Basketball season. A recruitment scandal involving bribery could spell a complete overhaul of the Louisville basketball program.
Adidas, also implicated in the probe, could end its sponsorship deal with Louisville, and the income stream such a partnership provides.
Head coach Rick Pitino has already been placed on unpaid leave.
Louisville interim president Dr. Greg Postel said Wednesday: "While this may be a dark day for the University of Louisville, better days are ahead."
From the Sporting News:
A proud program that still has three national championships on the books, Louisville potentially could be in line to receive the harshest punishment in the NCAA manual. It’s called “the death penalty.”
Already sanctions were placed on the team back in June with a number of policy violations cited.
A few weeks before the NCAA decision was announced, the Cardinals had gotten happier news for their basketball program, when 6-7 forward Brian Bowen committed to play for the team in 2017-18, the Sporting News writes. Bowen, however, is playing center stage in the wide ranging probe, though not specifically named in the indictment. He has been suspended indefinitely.
From ESPN.com:
The prosecutors' allegations against Louisville include payments of $100,000 from Adidas to the family of an unnamed player, identified as "Player-10," to ensure he signed with the school. ESPN has identified the player as Bowen, a five-star guard/forward who signed with Louisville on June 5.
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
