In a nutshell, Louisville’s 2018 basketball season consisted of: a sexual escort scandal, Rick Pitino getting fired, and a 20-13 finish. Needless to say, Louisville can probably smell the SMU Death Penalty creeping up around the corner.
According to the Courier-Journal, Louisville’s basketball players held a team-only meeting, prior to the ACC Tournament last week, and the team decided that it would not participate in the National Invitation Tournament (“NIT”) if they were invited.
After Louisville’s School Administration learned that the basketball team was planning on not participating in the NIT if they were invited, the Administration promptly informed these Louisville basketball players that the School had already independently decided that they were going to play in the NIT—for them—prior to their team meeting.
Louisville’s Interim Athletic Director Vince Trya offered the players a very, very, very small compromise (essentially in the form of an ultimatum):
[Tyra] had to explain to the players that they couldn’t withdraw from the tournament. They’d have to forfeit or play.
To make matters worse, Louisville drew Northern Kentucky in their first round match-up: a mid-major D1 program, which is more than likely jammed-packed full of guys that all believe in their heart-of-hearts that they should be the ones playing for Louisville or U.K themselves. These boys are literally salivating at the opportunity to knock off the Cardinals, while the Cardinals—on the other hand—don’t seem like they even want to be there at all.
Former Louisville Cardinal and potential rookie of the year candidate, Donavon Mitchell, offered his support via Twitter:
They’ve been through enough no? https://t.co/KfTZfc1Vmp
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) March 12, 2018
You know that one guy, at the gym, that has a headband on, and is sweating profusely, and is full-court pressing you from start to finish, and taking charges in a pick-up basketball game? We all know him. And that’s exactly how Northern Kentucky’s entire roster is going to be playing tonight at the Yum Center against the Cardinals.
Also notable, Louisville’s basketball players will not be compensated for playing in this game that the School Administration is forcing them to play in against their will. However, Louisville will be selling plenty of tickets for this game, ESPN is live broadcasting this game at 7pm on its main network, and Las Vegas set the opening line at Cardinals -7.
Tough day to be a Cardinal hooper.