More than five years after the FBI unsealed a sweeping investigation into college basketball corruption, the NCAA verdict appears to be in for the University of Louisville men’s basketball program.
U of L sources could not confirm a report by Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde that a decision from a panel of the NCAA’s Independent Accountability Resolution Process on Louisville’s infractions case is expected to be announced Thursday, but one source acknowledged “it would not surprise me if it came in the next couple of days.” That source added that the school had gotten no direct notice as of early Wednesday afternoon. A second source said that the school was expecting to get a decision sometime this week.
The program, which faces enhanced penalties for alleged recruiting violations that occurred on the heels of going on probation for the Katina Powell sex-for-recruits scandal, will have to abide by the lARP’s decision. No appeal is allowed.
The ruling will be the culmination of a process that began the day the FBI announced that the school was alleged to have benefited from a $100,000 offer to Saginaw, Michigan, prep standout Brian Bowen to play basketball for Louisville and to sign with Adidas after turning pro.